1. The President of Vietnam was presented with a brass Bodhi tree and Namoh 108.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu hosted Vietnamese President To Lam at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his first state visit to India . She emphasized the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. The banquet hosted for the Vietnamese President included flavors of Bihar and Maharashtra. He was also presented with a special gift during this official visit. Silao Khaja – Silao Khaja is a famous traditional sweet from Silao in the Nalanda district of Bihar, which has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique identity and heritage. Gaya Anarsa – Gaya Anarsa is a traditional dish from Gaya, Bihar, renowned for its distinctive flavor and cultural significance. Mithila Makhana – Mithila Makhana, also known as fox nuts or lotus seeds, is a premium product from the Mithila region of Bihar. Mithila Makhana has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique origin and quality. Hajipur Malbhog Banana – The Hajipur Malbhog Banana is a premium variety grown in the fertile plains of Hajipur, Bihar, renowned for its excellent taste and quality. Mango – Ratnagiri mangoes, known as Alphonso or Hapus , are one of the finest mango varieties from the Ratnagiri region of Maharashtra, having received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Healthy Millet Bar – Millets are an important part of Maharashtra’s agricultural heritage, grown extensively in areas like Solapur, Ahmednagar, and Marathwada. President To lam was also presented with a special gift: Namoh 108 (Lotus) , a brass Buddha with a Bodhi tree and silk cloth . Namoh 108 (Lotus) : Namoh 108 is a unique variety of the national flower (Lotus) developed by the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh. Bodhi Tree : This bronze statue depicts the Buddha seated in a meditative posture, facing an intricate, circular enclosure that resembles the spreading, delicate leaves of the Bodhi Tree. Silk Fabric : This resham or silk fabric comes from the historic city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh , a region renowned for centuries for its exquisite textile art and royal brocades.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, inaugurated India’s National Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, held in Venice . Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shekhawat said that the pavilion reflects the strength of the country’s cultural memory and the potential of artistic expression that connects India to the world. The pavilion features an exhibition titled ” Geographies of Distance: Remembering Home .” The exhibition has been curated by Dr. Amin Jaffer.
3 5th BRICS SAI Leaders’ Summit begins in Bengaluru
The two-day 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) Leaders’ Summit began in Bengaluru . The summit is focusing on urban mobility. The theme of the summit is Ease of Living. The summit is organized by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India under India’s BRICS Chairmanship 2026. Forty-two delegates, including SAI heads from BRICS countries, are participating in the summit. The summit was inaugurated by K. Sanjay Murthy, Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the summit . The event will conclude with the adoption of the BRICS SAI Action Plan 2027-28 and the Bengaluru Declaration.
4 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the Joint Defence Conference
On May 7th , Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan attended the Joint Commanders’ Summit in Jaipur . The two-day summit will focus on ” Military Capability in New Domains .” Operation Sindoor also completed one year on May 7th . The Defense Ministry stated that the summit aims to assess challenges and enhance critical understanding in emerging areas of cyber, space, and warfare. The summit will discuss combat intelligence and AI-based military systems. The summit aims to develop technologies for future unmanned systems and warfare. The summit will also address issues related to indigenous defense production and the development of civil-military fusion and innovation ecosystems. Future defense applications developed indigenously will be showcased at the summit.
On May 6 , the central government decided to give Vande Mataram equal status to the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana . ” The government also issued guidelines for the official protocol for the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram . According to the new guidelines, the full version of Vande Mataram should be played during state ceremonies. This decision was taken at the first cabinet meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi following the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The meeting also approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. Following the cabinet decision, Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, will now be subject to the same rules and restrictions as the national anthem. Disrespecting or obstructing its singing will now result in punishment . Currently, disrespecting the national flag, the Constitution, and the national anthem is punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both. The new protocol now includes Vande Mataram. The government is making this change to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram . For this, Section 3 of the law will be amended. According to Section 3, if any person intentionally obstructs or stops the singing of the national anthem, he can be imprisoned for up to three years or fined or both. India’s national song Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on 7 November 1875. Vande Mataram was first published in the magazine Bangadarshan in 1882 as part of his novel Anandamath . In 1896, Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram on stage at the Indian National Congress session . This was the first time this song was sung publicly at the national level. Thousands of people present in the gathering were moved to tears.
Hyderabad -based space-tech Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday announced raising $60 million (approximately Rs 570 crore in Indian Rupees) . With this, the company has become the country’s first space-tech startup unicorn . In the current funding round, Skyroot’s valuation is $1.1 billion, which is almost four times the company’s valuation of $519 million in 2023. The new funding shows that India’s private space sector is growing rapidly. India’s private space sector is growing rapidly. Whenever the valuation of a startup exceeds one billion dollars, it is considered a unicorn. Skyroot Aerospace’s co-founder and CEO is Pawan Kumar Chandna.
7 NITI Aayog releases new policy report on school education in India
NITI Aayog has released a significant policy report on India’s school education system . Titled ” School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement, ” the report was released on May 6, 2026, by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and Chief Executive Officer Nidhi Chibber . The report provides a detailed analysis of the changes and reforms in India’s school education system over the past decade. It examines key aspects such as access to education, enrollment, infrastructure, equity, inclusion, and learning levels. According to the report, India’s school education system is one of the largest in the world, encompassing 1.471 million schools and over 246.9 million students. The report highlights significant improvements in the expansion of electricity, toilets, and inclusive facilities in schools over the past years. Digital education has also been strengthened, with increased access to computers, internet connectivity, and smart classrooms. The report also cited improved participation of girls in education and increased enrollment of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students as positive signs. NITI Aayog stated that initiatives such as the New Education Policy 2020, the Nipun Bharat Mission, and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan have led to improvements in basic literacy and numeracy skills after the pandemic. However, further efforts are needed to ensure quality and equitable education. The report identifies 11 key challenges facing the education system and provides 13 comprehensive recommendations to address them. These include improving school structure, strengthening infrastructure, administrative reforms, better deployment and training of teachers, expanding digital education, and promoting equity and inclusion. At the educational level, the report emphasizes changes in teaching methods and assessment systems, holistic student development, vocational education, early childhood education (ECCE), and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The report also outlines 33 implementation pathways for implementing these recommendations, divided into short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans.
8 Janani digital platform launched to strengthen maternal and child health services
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday launched the Janani digital platform to strengthen maternal and child health services . Janani (Integrated Pre-Conception, Delivery and Newborn Care Journey) is a modern digital platform designed to monitor and manage the health records of women and children. It is an upgraded version of the old RCH portal and will create digital records of all services from pregnancy to newborn care and family planning. This platform will facilitate timely checkups, delivery preparation, vaccinations, and monitoring of newborn care for pregnant women. The Health Ministry on Thursday informed that the Janani app features a QR code-based digital maternal and child health card, making health records easily accessible anywhere.
9 Indian businessman Deepak Bhatia honoured with prestigious Earth Dubai Award in Dubai
It’s a historic moment for Dubai ‘s Indian business community , as a family business enterprise with over a century of history in the emirate has been honored with one of the city’s most prestigious awards. Deepak Bhatia, Managing Director of Uncles Shop Building Materials Trading, was awarded the Earth Dubai Award under the Best Private Sector Entity category . The award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, UAE, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai . The business was founded in 1922 by the late Uttamchand Bhatia, affectionately known as “Wattara.” It is one of the oldest Indian-origin enterprises in the UAE and is now in the fourth generation of the family.
The Gujarat government on Thursday informed that subsidy assistance of more than Rs 1,243 crore has been provided to more than 1.42 lakh beneficiaries under the ‘ Shri Vajpayee Bankable Scheme ‘ between the years 2021 and 2025. This scheme is being run with the aim of encouraging unemployed youth of urban and rural areas for self-employment . In the financial year 2025-26 alone, subsidy assistance of Rs 466 crore was given to 47,462 beneficiaries. Under the scheme, youth wishing to start businesses in the industry, service and trade sectors are provided assistance through bank loans and government subsidies.