1. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will organise five thematic events across the country dedicated to each big cat species found in India.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will organize a number of thematic events across the country to highlight India’s leadership in big cat conservation and promote the objectives of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) . These events will focus on India’s five wild big cat species – tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, snow leopard, and leopard – and showcase conservation achievements, challenges, and collaborative efforts by the Government of India and state governments. Thematic events will be held at the following locations: 1. Asiatic Lion Conservation Programme – Gir, Gujarat 2. Leopard Conservation Programme – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 3. Leopard Conservation and International Biodiversity Day Event – Bhubaneswar, Odisha 4. Snow Leopard Conservation Programme – Gangtok, Sikkim 5. Tiger Conservation Programme – Chandrapur, Maharashtra The Asiatic lion survives only in India and represents one of the most successful species conservation programs in the world.
2 The government has extended the tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation Director Praveen Sood by one year.
The government has extended the tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation Director Praveen Sood by one year . According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Mr Sood’s tenure as the Director of the Bureau beyond the 24th of this month.
3 N. Rangasamy sworn in as Chief Minister of Puducherry
All India National Congress leader N. Rangasamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for a record fifth time . Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailasanathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Rangasamy at a ceremony held at Lok Nivas. Malla Reddy of the All India National Congress and A. Namassivayam of the BJP were also sworn in as ministers at the ceremony. N. Rangasamy has served as the Chief Minister of Puducherry four times (2001-2006, 2006-2008, 2011-2016, and 2021-present). Rangasamy served as Chief Minister from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2006 to 2008 as a member of the Congress party. In 2011, he split from the Congress party and formed the All India NR Congress (AINRC). Rangasamy won the 2011 Assembly elections from the AINRC and became Chief Minister for the third time. Puducherry has the status of a ‘partial state’ under Article 239A of the Indian Constitution. The NDA alliance performed resoundingly well in the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections , winning 17 seats . This marks the second consecutive NDA government in Puducherry, which has 30 seats . The All India N.R. Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 12 seats. The Congress-DMK alliance, on the other hand, secured six seats, with the Congress winning one and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam winning five.
4 Cabinet approves augmentation scheme for coal and lignite gasification projects
The Union Cabinet has approved the Promotion Scheme for Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects at a cost of ₹37,500 crore . This scheme is a significant step towards accelerating India’s coal and lignite gasification program. The scheme aims to encourage new coal and lignite gasification projects for the gasification of approximately 75 million tonnes of coal and lignite to produce syngas and related products . The estimated investment under the scheme will be ₹3 lakh crore. Financial incentives equivalent to a maximum of 20% of the plant and machinery cost will be provided, and selection will be through a transparent and competitive bidding process. The scheme will generate revenue of ₹6,300 crore per year from mining alone.
5. Expansion of Nagpur International Airport approved.
The Union Cabinet approved the expansion of Nagpur International Airport on May 13. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the modernization of Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport . This project will be completed under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model. This project is part of MIHAN , the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur . MIHAN India Limited , also known as MIL, is a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India and the Maharashtra Airport Development Company . The Airports Authority of India holds a 49% stake in MIL, and the Maharashtra Airport Development Company holds a 51% stake. The plan aims to develop a capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually. Furthermore, the lease period of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) land will be extended beyond August 6, 2039. The expansion of Nagpur International Airport aims to boost regional air connectivity.
6 MoU between IEPFA and Prasar Bharati to increase investor awareness
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati to increase investor awareness . Under this initiative , informative scroll messages will be broadcast on Doordarshan’s national and regional channels to strengthen investor education and financial literacy across the country . The messages will include important information related to the process of returning unclaimed dividends and shares transferred to IEPFA. The aim is to reach remote and underserved areas. Through this campaign, IEPFA aims to provide timely and accurate information to investors, enabling them to use search features and file claims through Form IEPF-5. The campaign will also focus on fraud prevention and spreading awareness about safe investment practices.
7 India on its way to becoming a global shipbuilding hub, landmark agreement on Thoothukudi project
In a significant step towards establishing India ‘s maritime sector globally , a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the development of India’s first mega greenfield shipyard in Thoothukudi , Tamil Nadu . The agreement was signed between the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) , a Government of India undertaking, the National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Parks , Tamil Nadu Limited (NSHIP-TN), a special purpose vehicle jointly promoted by SIPCOT , a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking , and HD KSOE of South Korea . The agreement was signed on April 20, 2026, during the visit of President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of South Korea to India, in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. This initiative is under the India-ROK comprehensive maritime framework “VOYAGES” (Shared Vision for Operation of Yard Assisted Growth with Efficiency and Scale), which aims to enhance cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping, and maritime logistics. The proposed Thoothukudi Greenfield Shipyard will have an estimated annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tons (GT). The project will be developed on a joint development, financing, construction and operation basis.
8 Former judge Biren Vaishnav sworn in as Gujarat Lokayukta
Justice Biren Aniruddha Vaishnav, a retired judge of the Gujarat High Court, was sworn in as the Lokayukta of Gujarat on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Gandhinagar . Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. Bhupendra Patel, Shankar Chaudhary, Harsh Sanghvi, members of the state cabinet, and several senior officials were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Biren Vaishnav served as a judge of the Gujarat High Court from April 2016 to May 2025. He was appointed as an additional judge on April 6, 2016, and as a permanent judge in March 2018. The central government had issued notifications appointing him as the acting Chief Justice in February and April 2025.
9 India-Oman Trade Economic Agreement comes into effect from June 1
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with an Omani delegation in New Delhi on May 12th . The meeting discussed the implementation of the India-Oman Trade and Economic Agreement (CEPA) . The full form of CEPA is Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement . Following the CEPA agreement , import customs duties on more than 98% of Indian products will be eliminated. CEPA will come into effect on June 1st, 2026. India and Oman agreed on CEPA in December 2025. This agreement will benefit sectors such as textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles in India. In 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and Oman was estimated to be approximately US$10.6 billion, or over ₹1,01,406 crore. Nearly 6,000 Indian joint ventures operate in Oman in the fields of petroleum, construction, engineering, health, and communications. The talks were attended by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Oman’s Commerce Minister Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri and Advisor on Foreign Trade and International Cooperation HE Pankaj Khimji.
10 Trinidad and Tobago becomes the first Caribbean country to adopt UPI
Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean country to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) , enabling seamless digital payments through the BHIM app . This move makes Trinidad and Tobago the first Caribbean country to adopt India’s UPI platform. This partnership, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s visit in July 2025, will facilitate instant transactions for tourists and strengthen digital cooperation. This move will modernize Trinidad and Tobago’s financial infrastructure, ensuring fast and secure payments. In addition to UPI, the two countries have also agreed to collaborate on implementing other India Stack solutions such as DigiLocker (document storage) , e-Sign (digital signature), and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) . This collaboration aims to promote financial inclusion, tourism, and digital governance. Trinidad and Tobago has also sought India’s help to digitize its government land registration system. By early 2026, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be officially live and accepted in eight major countries—the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated an Eri silk processing unit at Bhoirimbong in Ri-Bhoi district . It aims to strengthen the state’s traditional silk industry and create better market access for weavers. Eri silk, popularly known as Rayandia , received Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2025 because its production process is non-violent, in which silkworms are not harmed. This silk is also known as Ahimsa silk .
12 Country’s first carbon-absorbing ‘Algae Tree’ launched in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Swami Vivekananda Park in Bhopal , Madhya Pradesh , has become the first city in India to introduce the ” Algae Tree .” It is an advanced carbon-absorbing system designed to absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to 25 large trees while simultaneously releasing oxygen into the environment . Developed by Mushroom World Group , the ” Algae Tree ” operates through a microalgae-based system that absorbs carbon dioxide from the surrounding atmosphere and converts it into oxygen. The company stated that the project took approximately two years to complete and involved the efforts of over 50 researchers, engineers, and experts. The company claims that the product can reduce PM2.5 levels by 45–55% within a 15-meter radius , and that one unit can absorb approximately 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide annually. New Delhi has taken a significant step toward tackling its severe air pollution. Under this, India’s first microalgae-based “PureAir Tower” or “Liquid Tree” has been installed on the busy Aerocity Highway corridor.
13 PM MITRA Park inaugurated in Warangal, Telangana
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the PM MITRA (Prime Minister’s Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park in Warangal , Telangana on May 10, 2026 , marking a historic milestone in India’s industrial and textile development journey. Developed at a cost of ₹1695.54 crore , it is the first operational PM MITRA Park in the country and embodies the Government of India’s ‘ 5F’ vision – Farm to Fibre, Fiber to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign . Strategically located near the proposed Nagpur-Vijayawada Greenfield Expressway (NH-163G) and adjacent to NH-163 , the park offers excellent multimodal connectivity to major railway networks and ports, ensuring seamless logistics for global trade. Spread over 1,327 acres, the park is set to create massive opportunities across the textile value chain, with over 24,400 jobs expected to be created, with thousands already created. The PM MITRA Parks scheme was officially launched on October 21, 2021, through a notification from the Ministry of Textiles.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, unveiled the logo for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday . The logo depicts a trident, symbolizing the famous Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik, and the Godavari River as a Shivalinga. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Fadnavis said the logo sends a strong message of India’s cultural heritage, traditions, and national unity.