U.S., China, and the search for stability

Following two days of high-level negotiations in Geneva, the United States and China announced a 90-day mutual tariff reduction as a tempora...

PM Modi’s visit to Netherlands secures 17 strategic pacts

An Indian Prime Minister visited the Netherlands in May 2026, where bilateral ties were formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership, backed...

Rail-led industrial corridors

India's Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC) has fundamentally shifted the economics of freight movement by providing high-speed, h...

India, Sweden agree to elevate ties to Strategic Partnership

At a delegation-level summit in Gothenburg on May 17, 2026, India and Sweden agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic P...

Ordinance to up SC judges from 33 to 37 promulgated

The President promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, notified in the Gazette of India on May 16, 2026. ...

ET Graphics: BoP stability tested by outflows & Rupee fall

India's external accounts faced simultaneous stress in FY2025-26: a widening current account deficit (CAD), net foreign portfolio investor (...

Boost for tech, trade & defence as India, Sweden become ‘strategic partners’

India and Sweden elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership on May 17, 2026, during a summit in Gothenburg, adopting a...

Kharif output dips by over 10% across states in El Niño years: Study

A recent study found that El Niño years cause kharif crop output to fall by more than 10% across numerous districts in multiple Indian state...

RBI tightens scrutiny of overseas investments as outflows surge to $27 billion in FY26

Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) outflows from India — including equity infusions, loans, and invoked guarantees — climbed from approximatel...

India, Netherlands seal historic 17-pact strategic partnership on chips, defence

India and the Netherlands formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership on May 16, 2026, during high-level talks...

GNI project recipe for ecological disaster, expand existing defence assets on Great Nicobar: Jairam to Rajnath

Experts — including ecologists, geoscientists, and defence analysts — have described the proposed Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Isla...

Chips to clean energy, India and the Netherlands upgrade ties

An Indian Prime Minister visited the Netherlands in May 2026, where bilateral ties were formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership, backed...

Forest Rights and the Great Nicobar Mega-Project: The case before the Calcutta High Court

Three connected Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging Forest Rights Act violations in the Great Nicobar Island development project ...

US, China, and the Thucydides Trap: Why Xi used the term, what Trump’s response reveals

At the US-China summit in Beijing on May 14–16, 2026 — the first visit by an American president to China since 2017 — the Chinese side forma...

The latest Ebola outbreak is now a global health emergency. Do we have a cure yet?

On 17 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola disease epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of th...

China This Week | Not tariffs or West Asia war, why Taiwan is ‘most important issue’ for China in ties with US

The May 2026 Beijing summit between the US and Chinese heads of government has brought the Taiwan question back to the centre of global stra...

Experts Explain | Make in India in defence sector: Challenges, bottlenecks, and the way forward

Despite a 34-fold surge in defence exports over the past decade, structural bottlenecks continue to constrain India's ability to transition ...

Modi hails 17 new agreements, says India-Netherlands ties will gain ‘unparalleled momentum’

During the India-Netherlands state visit on 16–17 May 2026, two headline outcomes stood out: the signing of an MoU between Tata Electronics ...

India taps Oman to rescue $11.8 billion food exports to West Asia

With the 2026 Iran war creating sustained risk of disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, India is actively exploring the use of Omani ports and...

List of Outcomes: Prime Minister’s visit to the Netherlands

The state visit to the Netherlands on 16–17 May 2026 produced 17 specific outcomes organized across political, economic, security, technolog...

‘Calm before storm’: Donald Trump’s warning sparks alarm over possible Iran strikes, signals escalation in West Asia

Escalating US-Iran tensions in May 2026 reached a flashpoint when warnings of imminent military action were issued, prompted by Iran's conti...

Trade, energy, discussions on global conflicts to top agenda for Modi’s Nordic visit

The Third India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, Norway on 19 May 2026, bringing together the Prime Minister of India with counterparts from ...

WHO declares international emergency as Ebola outbreak kills more than 80 in DR Congo

On 16 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of th...

Great Nicobar project a recipe for ecological disaster: Jairam Ramesh

The Central government has been asserting strategic national interest as the primary justification for proceeding with the Holistic Developm...

Shivraj wants an overhaul of ICAR’s 113 research institutes

The Union Minister for Agriculture has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its 113...

Return of Leiden copper plates should spark efforts for further repatriations, say Indian archaeologists

The Netherlands formally returned the Anaimangalam copper plates — also known as the Leiden copper plates — to India on 16 May 2026 during a...

Prime Minister holds official talks with Prime Minister of Netherlands

Formal bilateral talks between the Indian and Dutch heads of government took place at Catshuis, the official residence of the Dutch Prime Mi...

NCB cracks major India-Myanmar drug syndicate, arrests kingpin

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a Myanmar-based drug kingpin, identified as Thancintuang alias Chintuang alias Tluanga, in Delhi...

Iran media says ‘no tangible concessions’ in U.S. response to Iran proposal

Following a two-month armed conflict between the United States-led coalition and Iran, nuclear negotiations resumed but have reached an impa...

India-Netherlands Joint Statement on the visit of Prime Minister of India to Netherlands

India and the Netherlands issued a Joint Statement on 16 May 2026 at The Hague, formalizing the elevation of their bilateral relationship to...

Taiwan won't be sacrificed, U.S. arms sales a commitment: President responds to Trump

Taiwan's president issued the island's first formal response to the Beijing summit, asserting that arms sales from the United States are a s...

Trump met Xi Jinping in Beijing. He came back with doubts on Taiwan's $14 billion arms deal and lesson in Greek history

A high-stakes bilateral summit in Beijing between the US and Chinese heads of government produced significant uncertainty around a pre-appro...

Another step towards strengthening Amaravati’s quantum technology ecosystem

SRM University-AP (Andhra Pradesh), in collaboration with C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) and Amaravati Quantum Valley, announc...

WHO declares Ebola global emergency as death toll hits 87. Is there a vaccine? What we know

On 16 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Healt...

Online compliance to speed up environmental clearance for industrial expansion

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has made the Certified Compliance Report (CCR) process fully digital through...

Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership [2026-2030]

During a state visit to The Hague on 16–17 May 2026, India and the Netherlands adopted the Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnershi...

Field Operations for Houselisting and Housing Census commences in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and MCD area of Delhi

House-to-house field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) — Phase I of Census 2027 — commenced on May 16, 2026, in Rajas...

Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges by 4

An ordinance was promulgated on May 17, 2026, amending the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength o...

Why PM Modi visited Netherlands’ Afsluitdijk dam: The Dutch model India may need

During the India-Netherlands bilateral visit in May 2026, the Indian Prime Minister toured the Afsluitdijk — the Netherlands' iconic 32-kilo...

India, Chile expedite CEPA negotiations and critical minerals cooperation

Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna visited India in May 2026, imparting fresh momentum to bilateral ties and accelerating neg...

North America, NE Asia, Latin America account for over 35 pc of India's exports in FY26

India's merchandise exports reached USD 441.78 billion in FY2025-26, registering modest growth of approximately 0.93% year-on-year. North Am...

India and Netherlands ink 17 pacts, elevate ties to strategic partnership

India and the Netherlands elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during a state visit to The Hague on 16–17 May 20...

India, Netherlands elevating ties to strategic partnership, says PM Modi

India and the Netherlands formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" during an official visit, signing a co...

Silver imports restricted; licence now must for select categories

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, imposed mandatory import licensing for select ...

MoSPI proposes framework to measure India's knowledge economy contribution

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released a base paper proposing a framework to measure the contribution ...

Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal Highlights Trade and Economic Cooperation at BRICS Meeting in Gandhinagar

The 2nd Meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) for 2026 was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on May 15, 2026, ...

Operation RAGEPILL: NCB Busts a Major International Drug Trafficking Network; Makes India’s First-Ever Seizure of Captagon, a Psychotropic Substance used in the Middle East Region

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), acting on intelligence from a foreign drug law enforcement agency, dismantled an international drug traf...

After duty hike, government curbs silver imports to aid rupee

The central government raised import duties on gold and silver from 6% to 15% effective May 13, 2026, comprising a 10% Basic Customs Duty (B...

NEET-UG | Test in turmoil

The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET-UG 2026 on May 12 — nine days after it was conducted on May 3 for 22.79 lakh candidates — followi...

India invites Dutch firms to design and manufacture, says PM Modi at CEO roundtable

During an official bilateral visit to the Netherlands, a CEO roundtable was co-hosted by both Prime Ministers along with the Dutch Minister ...

Centre to roll out pilot programme for linking out-of-school adolescents to open school

The Union Ministry of Education convened a high-level meeting on May 16, 2026, chaired by the Secretary, Department of School Education and ...

Chola-era Anaimangalam Plates, in possession of Leiden University since 1862, returned to India

The Chola-era Anaimangalam Copper Plates, held by Leiden University in the Netherlands since 1862, were formally handed over to India at a c...

NEET paper leak: CBI arrests Pune botany teacher who NTA appointed as expert

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a botany teacher from Pune, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 pape...

Netherlands returns 11th Century 'Chola Plates', PM Modi says 'joyous moment for every Indian'

The return of the 11th-century Anaimangalam Chola copper plates by the Netherlands marks the culmination of a diplomatic effort initiated in...

Three old thermal power sites shortlisted for new nuclear power projects

Three decommissioned or ageing thermal (coal-based) power station sites have been shortlisted for setting up new nuclear power plants, as pa...

Netherlands returns Chola-era copper plates to India during PM Modi’s visit

The Netherlands formally returned the Anaimangalam copper plates — approximately 1,000-year-old artefacts from the Chola dynasty — to India ...

‘She was a very normal teacher’: CBI arrests another professor from Pune in NEET-UG paper leak case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a senior botany professor from Pune — who had been appointed as a domain expert by the Na...

Amid PM visit, Netherlands returns Chola-era plates after 14-yr diplomatic effort

During an official bilateral visit, the Dutch government formally returned a set of 11th-century Chola copper plates that had been held by L...

IWT: India rejects ‘so-called’ arbitration award as ‘null and void’

India rejected the 15 May 2026 award of the so-called Court of Arbitration on the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the tribunal as "illegally...

Tata Electronics, ASML sign MoU to advance chip making ecosystem in India

Tata Electronics and ASML (Netherlands-based semiconductor equipment company) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 16, 2026 to advanc...

India rejects Court of Arbitration’s pondage award on Indus Waters Treaty

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague issued an award on May 15, 2026, concerning maximum pondage limits on western rivers u...

Iran will announce Strait of Hormuz mechanism, collect fees, Iranian MP says

A senior Iranian lawmaker and Chairman of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee announced that Iran will unveil a ...

BRICS is evolving with new members; differences will take time to resolve: Brazil FM Mauro Vieira

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, attending the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, acknowledged that BRICS is evolving wit...

Taiwan says is an ‘independent’ nation, after Trump’s warning

Taiwan's Presidential Office formally stated that "The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent democratic country; this is self-eviden...

BRICS members agree on ‘independent’ State of Palestine

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, hosted by India in New Delhi under its 2026 chairship, concluded on 15 May 2026 after two days of deli...

CBI arrests ‘mastermind’ linked to NEET-UG 2026 biology paper leak

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Pune-based botany teacher — appointed by the National Testing Agency as a subject-matte...

Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, India rejects latest arbitration award as ‘null & void’

On 15 May 2026, the Court of Arbitration constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty issued an award related to the Kishanganga and Ratle hydr...

Trump warns against Taiwan independence after China visit

Following a US presidential state visit to Beijing — the first such visit since 2017 — Washington publicly warned against any formal declara...

Netherlands to return Chola-era copper plates during Modi visit. It’s culmination of a 14-yr effort

The Netherlands' return of the Anaimangalam Chola copper plates — held at Leiden University for over 300 years — illustrates the complex leg...

NEET-UG paper leak: Doctors’ body moves Supreme Court to make NTA a statutory body accountable to Parliament

Following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 after a confirmed paper leak, the United Doctors Front (UDF) filed a writ petition in the Supreme...

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announces incentives for third and fourth children under new population management policy

The Andhra Pradesh government announced financial incentives of ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for the birth of a fourth...

The week in charts: PM Modi’s austerity call, MSP hike, sugar export ban

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for the marketing ...

After Trump trip, Putin to visit China on May 19

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China from May 19–20, 2026, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping — the v...

European countries in talks with Tehran for Hormuz transit: Report

Several European nations are reported to be in diplomatic talks with Iran to secure transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commerc...

Iran-Israel war LIVE: Pakistani minister arrives in Tehran to 'facilitate' U.S.-Iran peace talks: media

Pakistan's Interior Minister arrived in Tehran on an official two-day visit, continuing the country's active role as a back-channel mediator...

NTA ‘structurally incapacitated’, NEET-UG shift to computer mode won’t fix integrity, says doctors’ body

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) filed a petition in the Supreme Court on May 13, 2026, arguing that the National Tes...

PM Modi in Netherlands LIVE: Netherlands hands back Chola dynasty copper plates to India

The Netherlands formally returned 21 copper plates dating to the 11th-century Chola dynasty to India during a state visit, marking one of th...

Gravity of a crime must not dictate decision on premature release of a convict: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India, in Rohit Chaturvedi v. State of Uttarakhand & Ors. (2026 INSC 490), ruled that the heinousness or gravity of a c...

Kuki-Zo protestors rally in Manipur, demanding justice for slain church leaders, release of hostages

Kuki-Zo tribal organisations, led by Kuki Inpi Manipur (the apex body of Kuki tribes), held mass rallies and protests across Kuki-Zo inhabit...

Average of 53% MPs attend meetings of 16 Parliamentary Standing Committees, PAC: data

Data compiled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that Members of Parliament attended, on average, only 53% of meetings held by ...

Oil price shock to widen current account deficit, push inflation higher as US-Iran war continues: Expert

Experts have warned that the continued oil price shock stemming from the US-Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is simultaneous...

Govt imposes import curbs on silver

The government reclassified silver imports from the "free" category to the "restricted" category under India's import policy, effective imme...

'Illegally constituted': MEA rejects Pakistan-backed Court of Arbitration ruling on Indus Waters Treaty

The Ministry of External Affairs rejected the latest award issued on 15 May 2026 by the Court of Arbitration convened under the Indus Waters...

‘One Nation, One Election’ will strengthen India for next 100 years: JPC Chairman Chaudhary

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) overseeing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) ...

Rising oil prices, gold imports to widen trade deficit, CAD may touch 1.5-2% of GDP: ICICI Securities

Analysts have warned that the twin pressures of elevated crude oil prices — driven by the ongoing US-Iran conflict and the closure of the St...

India's April exports jump 13.8%, trade gap widens to 3-month high

India's merchandise exports in April 2026 rose 13.78% year-on-year to $43.56 billion (from $38.28 billion in April 2025), marking a five-mon...

Amid UAE-Iran rift, BRICS remains a divided house on West Asia; no joint statement after meeting

BRICS foreign ministers convened in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, as part of India's BRICS chairmanship, to prepare for the September annual...

Rajnath, CM Naidu lay stone for AMCA project in Andhra, minister calls it 'history chapter in defence history'; 8 cos to set up 'Drone City' in Kurnool

The foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Centre was laid at Puttaparthi, ...

CJI on panel to pick CEC not statutory need: Govt

The Central Government has taken the position before the Supreme Court that inclusion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the selection p...

Petrol, diesel prices hiked by Rs 3 per litre, covers only part of losses incurred by oil PSUs

Public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petr...

BRICS foreign ministers condemn Pahalgam attack, voice concerns over rise of tariff measures ‘which distort trade’

BRICS foreign ministers at the New Delhi meeting (May 14–15, 2026) strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack — the April 2025 massacre i...

Why reserved candidates availing relaxations are barred from open category recruitment

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed a settled principle in reservation jurisprudence: a reserved category candidate who avails category-specifi...

Productivity, not just growth, for Viksit Bharat

A policy analysis published in May 2026 argues that India's high GDP growth rate is insufficient by itself to achieve Viksit Bharat (Develop...

Superpower summit: On the Trump visit to China

US President Donald Trump visited Beijing (May 13–15, 2026) for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — the first US presidential visit...

Finance Ministry increases export levy on petrol, reduces that of diesel and ATF

The Finance Ministry, through the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), revised the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on e...

Iran FM says U.S. willing to continue talks, open to China’s help

Iran's Foreign Minister stated that messages had been received from the United States indicating willingness to continue diplomatic talks, a...

BRICS members agree on ‘independent’ State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as capital

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), member states collectively affirmed support for an independent State...

Trade, supply chains and economic statecraft

A structural reset in the global trading order — driven by supply chain fragmentation, the retreat from hyper-globalisation, and the rise of...

Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex declared as temple by Madhya Pradesh High Court

On 15 May 2026, the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court delivered a 242-page judgment declaring the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex ...

DMRC rolls out hydrogen buses in Central Vista

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), launched a hydrogen fuel cell-powered shuttle...

Death toll in attack on Kyiv apartment building rises to 24

A cruise missile struck a nine-storey corner apartment block in Kyiv on 14 May 2026, causing the building to partially collapse and killing ...

State to tighten groundwater governance to prevent over exploitation of resource

Telangana's Irrigation Minister directed officials to treat groundwater conservation as a state-wide mass movement, with immediate steps to ...

Israeli strikes wound dozens in Lebanon as talks in U.S. enter second day

Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon brokered by the United States (initially agreed April 16, 2026; extended on April 23 for thre...

GST Tribunal revamps appeal process: Division bench review now mandatory for appeals

The GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) has mandated that all appeals must undergo a screening by a Division Bench before any matter can be assig...

Govt imposes export duty on petrol, cuts levy on diesel, jet fuel exports

The government revised export levies on petroleum products effective May 16, 2026: a Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) of ₹3 per litre w...

Election Commission orders probe into voting by foreign nationals in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered an inquiry after foreign nationals — including Sri Lankan, British, Canadian, and Indonesian ...

Farmers from Punjab protest at Mohali-Chandigarh boundary against Centre Government

Thousands of farmers from Punjab marched from Mohali to Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh on 15 May 2026, under the banner of Sanyukt Kissan Morcha (...

Steel safeguard measure hits India-UK trade pact rollout

India and the UK concluded a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025 after 14 rounds of negotiations spanning three y...

Fuel price hike may push inflation up by 20 bps, say experts

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — raised ...

Sri Lanka civil war: 17 years later, the imprints remain

18 May 2026 marks 17 years since the end of Sri Lanka's three-decade civil war, when the Sri Lankan Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tig...

Could e-Vikas solve India’s fertiliser distribution challenge? Nishant Warwade explains | Teaser

The e-Vikas portal, implemented by the Madhya Pradesh government, is emerging as a model for resolving the longstanding challenge of fertili...

Energy to defence, India, UAE deepen ties as PM Modi calls for open Hormuz

During a state visit to the UAE, India and the UAE signed multiple agreements covering energy supply, strategic petroleum reserves, defence,...

India issues chair statement after BRICS meeting amid ‘differing views’ over West Asia conflict

Following the May 14–15, 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, India as chair issued a "Chair's Statement and outcome document...

Chabahar a golden gateway, hope India continues to develop it: Iran FM Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi (May 15, 2026), called C...

PM Modi’s Europe trip begins today: What India hopes to gain from better ties with Nordic countries

The 3rd India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, Norway, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years (since Indir...

India’s push for energy conservation is a refusal to be ‘extorted’ for Hormuz passage: govt sources

Amid a disruption to the Strait of Hormuz passage for tanker traffic, government sources described India's domestic energy conservation push...

BRICS Foreign Ministers: No joint statement amid differing views on West Asia

The two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026) — the first major ministerial engagement under India's 2026...

Permitted use of fresh borrowings for InvITs where Net Borrowings exceeds forty-nine percent of the value of InvIT assets

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular on May 15, 2026 (Ref: SEBI/HO/DDHS/DDHS-PoD-2/I/11700/2026) clarifying t...

BRICS ministers fail to issue a joint statement over differences on West Asia conflict

The two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026 under India's 2026 chairship concluded without a joint com...

‘We condemn attacks on UAE’, says PM Modi, signs defence cooperation pact

During a brief Abu Dhabi stopover on May 15, 2026, India and the UAE signed a defence cooperation framework agreement and an MoU on strategi...

India-U.K. trade deal hits late-stage ‘sticking points’ just before implementation date

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on July 24, 2025, has encountered late-stage "sticking points" just before its planned imple...

India can play ‘greater role’ for peace in West Asia, says Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in India for a three-day visit (May 13–15, 2026) to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet...

Drones are no more eyes in the sky, they are claws in the sky, says IAF Chief

At a defence seminar focused on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS capabilities, the Chief of Air Staff articulated a fundamental...

Centre extends bid submissions to June 29 for EV Magnet Manufacturing Scheme

The Centre extended the bid submission deadline to June 29, 2026, for the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) Manufacturing Scheme — India's ...

India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle released in Kaziranga

India's first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) was released into the Brahmaputra river system at Kaziranga Nat...

Drones no longer enablers, they’re replacing manned aircraft roles—CISC Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

At a seminar organized by an Indian Air Force think-tank, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit stated that un...

28 Naga, Kuki civilians released in Manipur; slain church leaders buried

On May 15, 2026, 28 hostages — 14 Naga and 14 Kuki civilians — were released in Manipur following mediation by civil society organisations (...

PM Modi’s quick dash to UAE fetches agreements on defence, LPG & strategic petroleum reserves

A brief, last-minute stopover in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026 (approximately three hours) yielded three significant agreements between India an...

India fails to achieve consensus at BRICS foreign ministers meet as Iran dissents on Palestine, Red Sea

Iran was the sole dissenter at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026) that prevented adoption of a joint statem...

‘Xi asked me if the U.S. will defend Taiwan’, says Trump

During the May 2026 Beijing summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping directly asked US President Trump whether the United States would defend Ta...

ECI orders probe into voting by foreign nationals in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered an investigation after foreign nationals were found to have voted in the recently conclud...

Xi, Trump reach series of new common understandings: China's foreign ministry

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a two-day state summit in Beijing (May 14–15, 2026), described by China as "...

Trump concludes China visit hailing ‘fantastic deals’

A two-day US-China summit concluded in Beijing on May 15, 2026, with both sides claiming positive outcomes while analysts noted limited conc...

Hormuz disruption hits 18.4 million barrels daily oil flow, 110 bcm of annual LNG trade

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since late February 2026 following a US-Israel military conflict with Iran, with the Irania...

US team likely to visit India next month for trade talks

A US trade delegation is expected to visit India in June 2026 for trade negotiations, following an Indian delegation's visit to Washington i...

West Asia crisis: Russia backs India over Pakistan for 'long-term diplomatic role' in US-Iran conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), stated that India c...

Exports clock 5-month high growth of 13.48 pc in April; trade deficit widens to three-month high

India's merchandise exports rose 13.78% year-on-year to USD 43.56 billion in April 2026 — the highest monthly export value in over four year...

India's BRICS trade surges to $416 billion, but widening deficit raises policy imperative ahead of 2026 Summit

India's total trade with BRICS nations reached $416 billion in CY2025, a substantial increase from prior years driven by a surge in imports....

Economists warn fuel, milk price hikes may raise retail inflation by up to 0.42%

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — raised ...

PM Modi in UAE: India signs defence, gas supply and strategic oil reserves pacts with Abu Dhabi

During a bilateral visit to Abu Dhabi, a series of landmark agreements were signed between India and the UAE spanning defence cooperation, e...

'India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with UAE': PM Modi in Abu Dhabi, condemns attacks, signs strategic defence pact

During a brief May 15, 2026 visit to Abu Dhabi, India formalised an "Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership" with the ...

Census: 1.34 lakh submit self enumeration in Delhi; 50,000 deployed for houselisting visits

The self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 concluded in Delhi on May 15, 2026, with 1.34 lakh (134,000) individuals submitting census data on...

Capital flight and pressure on the rupee

India's external account is under simultaneous stress from capital outflows, a depreciating rupee, rising oil prices, and a widening current...

SC: Present set-up lets govt pick CEC, ECs of its choice

The Supreme Court, while hearing challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of ...

Sabarimala reference hearing concludes; Supreme Court reserves judgment

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court reserved its judgment in the Sabarimala reference case after 16 days of extensive heari...

Uttarakhand files first FIR on allegations of nikah halala under Uniform Civil Code

Uttarakhand Police registered the first FIR under the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand, 2024, on allegations involving the practice of nika...

Talks continue to free 44 hostages in Manipur; church leader killings ‘unprecedented’: Deputy CM

Three Baptist church leaders from the Kuki community were killed and four others injured after unidentified armed men opened fire at Zero Po...

Iran-UAE rift over West Asia conflict surfaces at BRICS meeting

BRICS consensus on West Asia uncertain as Iran, UAE spar at meeting

BRICS foreign ministers held a two-day meeting in New Delhi (May 13–14, 2026), under India's chairship of the grouping, ahead of the 18th BR...

Govt: Right to religion does not provide for gender equality

In ongoing hearings before a 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on the Sabarimala reference case, the Union Government submitte...

India bans sugar exports till September to stabilise domestic prices

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the export policy for sugar — covering raw sugar, white sugar, and refined sugar — f...

Sugar export ban to free up 4-5 lakh tonne for domestic use

The sugar export ban, effective May 13, 2026, is projected to retain approximately 4–5 lakh tonnes (400,000–500,000 metric tonnes) of sugar ...

BRICS: EAM slams unilateral sanctions, says pressure can’t replace diplomacy

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, India articulated a strong institutional position against unilat...

Iran’s Araghchi listening, Jaishankar calls for safe Hormuz transit

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi for a three-day official visit — the first high-level diplomatic engagement from...

What is PCOS, and why does its renaming to PMOS matter? An AIIMS doctor explains

As of 12 May 2026, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), announced i...

Why Modi government has banned sugar exports: 3 reasons

The Indian government, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), imposed a complete ban on the export of raw, white, and refi...

Govt confirms safe passage of 2 LPG tankers through Strait of Hormuz; 14-member crew rescued as Indian vessel sinks

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that two LPG carrier vessels carrying cargo owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sa...

$1 trillion exports target for this year: Piyush Goyal

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister announced at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav that India is targeting $1 trillion in exports (goods pl...

NEET-UG, 2026 paper leak: Experts call for reforms in exam process, exemption of State-government seats

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled following a paper leak, where a handwritten "guess paper" circulated in Jaipur was found to match...

India bans sugar exports with immediate effect to cool domestic prices

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), issued a notification shifting sugar exports...

Why this show-off about independence in appointment of CEC/ECs when it can be decided by govt? SC to Centre

The Supreme Court, while hearing challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of ...

Lavrov, Jaishankar discussed trade, sustainable currency, logistics: Russian Embassy

India's External Affairs Minister and Russia's Foreign Minister held bilateral talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Mini...

Trump-Xi meeting was 'good', says White House

The White House described talks between the US and Chinese presidents during a May 13–15, 2026 state visit to Beijing as "good," with discus...

FSDC-SC reviews key global and domestic macroeconomic developments

The Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC-SC) convened a meeting at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mumbai...

BRICS Foreign Ministers meet in India as Iran war, oil prices, internal divisions test bloc’s unity

India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, under its 2026 chairship of the expanded bloc. The meetin...

China, U.S. should be ‘partners not rivals’, says Xi Jinping after meeting Donald Trump

A high-stakes bilateral summit between the leaders of the United States and China was held in Beijing over two days (May 14-15, 2026) — the ...

Supreme Court summons Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh officials over ‘casual approach’ to Chambal illegal sand mining

The Supreme Court summoned senior officials from Rajasthan — including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Principal Secretaries of th...

Iran urges BRICS group to condemn “international law violations” by US, Israel

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, Iran's Foreign Minister urged BRICS member states to "unequivocally condemn violations...

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in India, to attend BRICS FM meet

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on May 14–15, 2026,...

India re-included in list of countries that can export aquaculture products to EU from September 2026

India was included in a revised draft list published by the European Union on May 12, 2026, authorising continued export of Indian aquacultu...

Geothermal energy could unlock 450 GW electricity potential in India: report

A joint report by Project InnerSpace and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), titled "The Future of Geothermal in India," id...

Trump invites Chinese President Xi Jinping for September 24 visit at White House

During the Beijing state visit (May 13–15, 2026), a White House invitation was extended to China's president for a reciprocal visit to the W...

IAF finalises Rafale RFP, sets stage for fighter production before Modi & chief AP Singh fly to France

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has finalised the Request for Proposal (RFP) for 114 Rafale multirole fighter jets — a deal that will combine dir...

U.S. clears H200 chip sales to 10 China firms as Nvidia CEO looks for breakthrough

The United States government cleared approximately 10 Chinese companies — including major technology firms such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Byt...

Wholesale inflation jumps to 3.5-year high of 8.3% in April 2026 on West Asia impact

India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rose to 8.3% in April 2026 (year-on-year), the highest reading in approximately 42 month...

Phase 3 of SIR in 16 States, three UTs from May 30, says ECI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced Phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, to be conducted across ...

Iran and UAE clash at BRICS foreign ministers' meeting

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on May 14–15, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, chaired by India's External Affairs Minister...

India included in revised EU list for continued aquaculture exports

The European Commission published a revised draft list on May 12, 2026, including India among countries authorised to export aquaculture pro...

NTA casually ignored Supreme Court order to overhaul system after 2024 leak: FAIMA petition

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) filed a petition in the Supreme Court arguing that the National Testing Agency (NTA)...

EAM Jaishankar welcomes foreign ministers & representatives for Delhi BRICS meet

India formally hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, inaugurating the substantive...

India backs two-state solution for Palestine issue, says Jaishankar at BRICS meeting

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026, New Delhi), India formally reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution as the ...

GMR Aero Technic signs Boeing deal for P-8I aircraft heavy maintenance

GMR Aero Technic (GAT), the aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of the GMR Group, signed an agreement with Boeing Defence In...

BRICS: India hits out at sanctions, calls for free Hormuz transit, supports 2-state Palestine solution

As the current BRICS Chair, India issued a national statement at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (New Delhi, May 14–15, 2026), read out...

Transhipment terminal in Nicobar could be geopolitical lever, says Navy officer amid ecological debate

A senior naval officer articulated, at a strategic forum, that the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Great Ni...

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar hits out at ‘unilateral’ sanctions days before expiry of U.S.’ Russian oil waiver

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticised unilateral sanctions and c...

India EV battery demand to grow tenfold to 200 GWh by 2032: IESA

The Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), in association with Customized Energy Solutions (CES), projects India's electric vehicle battery ...

COVID-19 linked to 22.1 million excess deaths globally between 2020 and 2023: WHO report

The World Health Organization (WHO) published its World Health Statistics 2026 report on May 13, 2026, estimating that COVID-19 was linked t...

Why did NTA’s ‘Zero Error’ policy fail? | Explained

The National Testing Agency's (NTA) "Zero Error Policy" — a framework of safeguards meant to ensure tamper-proof examinations — has failed a...

Israel-Iran war LIVE: Iran allows Chinese ships to pass Hormuz since May 13, reports Iranian media

Iran confirmed that approximately 30 Chinese commercial vessels were permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz beginning the night of May 13...

U.S.-China summit: Taiwan issue could lead to ‘conflict’, Xi warns Trump

At the opening of the US-China summit in Beijing on 14 May 2026, the Chinese President warned that the Taiwan issue could lead to "clashes a...

PM Modi to leave on five-nation tour tomorrow, discussions in UAE to also focus on strengthening energy security

A six-day, five-nation diplomatic tour covering the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy commenced on May 15, 2026, aimed at deepenin...

Antiparallel Quantum States Unlock Novel Measurement Advantages

Researchers from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (Kolkata), Balagarh Bijoy Krishna Mahavidyalaya, and the Indian Statistical I...

EAM Jaishankar welcomes Russian FM Sergey Lavrov at BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting

New Delhi hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, as a key event under India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship (assumed Janu...

India bans sugar exports till Sept 30

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified a shift in sugar's export classificatio...

Assam exports first consignment of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia, UAE

Assam exported its first legally approved consignment of agarwood chips, valued at ₹2.35 crore, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates...

Watch: What to expect from the Trump-Xi summit

The United States President arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit on 14-15 May 2026, the first visit by a sitting US president to Chi...

Govt to explore possibility of PLI scheme for seafood MSMEs

The Department of Fisheries is actively exploring the development of a dedicated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically for M...

India figures in EU's draft list for continued export of aquaculture products

The European Commission published a revised draft list on May 12, 2026 that includes India as an approved source for aquaculture product exp...

Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India for the Month of April 2026 (Base Year: 2011-12)

The annual rate of inflation based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) stood at 8.3% (provisional) in April 2026, compared to 3.88%...

India's gold rush meets a speeding ticket, but industry fears smuggling and job loss

The Finance Ministry raised the total import duty on gold from approximately 9.18% to 18.45%, effective May 13, 2026, through a combination ...

India bans sugar exports until September 2026 to cool local prices

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issued a notification changing the export stat...

How do volcanoes affect the earth’s atmosphere?

Scientific understanding of volcanic impacts on Earth's atmosphere has been consolidated and is gaining renewed attention as researchers stu...

What has the IMD announced ahead of this year’s monsoon? | Explained

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued its Long Range Forecast (LRF) for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season (June–September), p...

India bans sugar exports till September 2026 to control domestic prices

The Union government banned sugar exports with immediate effect until September 30, 2026, or until further orders, through a notification is...

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launches ?189.79 Crore Mizoram Ginger Mission

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the Mizoram Ginger Mission, a ₹189.79 crore convergence-led scheme aim...

IndiaAI signs MoU with Karya to strengthen inclusive AI ecosystem

The IndiaAI Mission, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K...

Agreement Signed between DBN (Digital Bharat Nidhi) - Department of Telecommunications; Government of Andhra Pradesh; APBIL; BSNL & APSFL for Implementation of Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in Andhra Pradesh

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infr...

Celebrating the Return of India’s Lost Cultural Heritage: Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Addresses Press Meet at National Museum

India repatriated three significant Chola and Vijayanagara-period bronze sculptures from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in W...

Issuance of first instalment of Mother Sanction of Rs 401.50 crore for F.Y. 2026-27 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for District and Subordinate Courts

The Ministry of Law and Justice released the first instalment of a "mother sanction" of ₹401.50 crore for FY 2026-27 to States and Union Ter...

12th India-bound ship crosses Hormuz, one more on way

By May 13, 2026, twelve India-bound commercial vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, wit...

Pokhran II tests showcased that ‘no power can bend India’, says Modi; Country has increased its N-warhead count from 172 in 2024 to 180 in 2025, says report

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 reports India's nuclear warhead count increased from 172 in 2024 ...

Amid West Asia crisis, government bans sugar exports until September 30

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on May 13, 2026 changing the export policy for sugar — covering raw su...

India, UAE may sign pacts on strategic petroleum reserves, LPG during PM visit

During a high-level bilateral visit to the UAE, India signed two significant energy security agreements with Abu Dhabi. The first agreement ...

The law does not favour AIADMK rebels

Following the Tamil Nadu trust vote on May 13, 2026, in which 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling government against pa...

The Xi-Trump summit — shadow boxing on Iran

The US and China held a high-stakes summit in Beijing on May 13–14, 2026, with the Iran war, global trade, and Taiwan among the primary agen...

Testing troubles: On the National Testing Agency, NEET-UG 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026, after investigations revealed that "gues...

India weighs joint Centre-State funding framework for heatwave mitigation

The Union government is weighing a formal joint Centre-State funding architecture for heatwave mitigation, moving heatwaves from an ad hoc, ...

Jaishankar holds talks with Russia’s Lavrov; trade and geopolitics in focus

The External Affairs Minister held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on 13 May 2026, on the sidelines of the BR...

Nicobarese oppose proposal for three wildlife sanctuaries

The Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar Islands has formally opposed three proposed wildlife sanctuaries — a Leatherback Turt...

Iran working on Hormuz ‘protocol’ to cover ‘costs’, says Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), stated that...

India targets $1 trillion exports in FY27 as FTAs come into effect, says Goyal

The Union Commerce Ministry has set a target of USD 1 trillion in total exports (goods and services) for FY 2026-27, up from approximately U...

Local transport, storage and human handling are the weakest links in conducting NEET, according to panel report

A high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, constituted by the Ministry of Education in June 2024, identified lo...

Learn from Sri Lanka’s experience on impact of fertilizer supply chains: experts

At a panel discussion on the "Impact of West Asia Crisis on Economic Disruptions and Sustainability: Implications for India," experts urged ...

AIADMK split erupts in Assembly as 25 of 47 MLAs back Vijay government in trust vote

During a trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on May 13, 2026, 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling TVK-led...

Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh top logistics performance ranking, Mizoram and Delhi also lead

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the LEADS 2025 (Logistics Ease Across Different States) report, benchmarking logistics perfor...

DBN, Andhra Pradesh sign pact to roll out Bharatnet in state with Rs 2,432 cr financial support

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Government of India, the Andhra Pradesh government, APBIL (Andhra Pradesh Broadband Infrastructure Limited),...

Centre raises MSP for 14 kharif crops, boosts support for pulses and oilseeds

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all 14 mandated kharif crops for ...

Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution in English not in Hindi: Kerala

The Kerala High Court, while deciding a PIL challenging the Hindi titles given to three new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiy...

MSP hike for Kharif crops: Cabinet raises support prices for 14 crops for marketing season 2026-27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a hike in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for Marketing Season 20...

Cabinet okays Rs 37,500 cr scheme for coal, lignite gasification; promotes use of indigenous tech

The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects on May 13, 2026, with a total financial ou...

Cabinet okays 134-km semi-high-speed rail line between Ahmedabad & Dholera

Cabinet approved a 134-km semi high-speed double-line railway corridor between Ahmedabad (Sarkhej) and Dholera at an estimated project cost ...

Great Nicobar Project: Jairam Ramesh alleges ‘flagrant violation’ of tribal rights, writes to minister Jual Oram

Parliamentary opposition raised allegations of "flagrant violations" of tribal rights in the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) development project,...

IMD’s new AI weather forecasts will tell farmers when it will rain within a 1-km area

The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched two AI-enabled weather forecast products under the India Meteorological Department (IMD): a block-le...

‘Shot in the arm’: NIA arrests Hizbul terror funding accused Iqbal Singh Shera after Portugal extradition

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Iqbal Singh alias "Shera" at Delhi airport on May 13, 2026, immediately upon his arrival fr...

NEET-UG leak probe widens, scores picked up across Maharashtra, Rajasthan

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a multi-state investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, conducting raids and arrest...

‘Sack all NTA officials, treat issue like organised crime’: RSS-linked bodies slam NEET paper leak

Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, various civil society organisations and student bodies demanded dismissal of National Testing Agency ...

Trump-Xi summit: Iran war, trade, Taiwan and AI on the agenda, why China has the upper hand

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a two-day summit in Beijing on May 14–15, 2026 — the first US presidential v...

Why India hiked import duty on gold, silver amid rupee fall and rising oil prices

Effective 13 May 2026, the government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15%, comprising a 10% basic customs duty and a 5%...

West Asia war impact on oil market worse than earlier anticipated: What’s the worry for India?

The ongoing West Asia conflict has pushed crude oil prices to levels significantly higher than earlier anticipated, with the Indian crude ba...

Hotel staff assaulted, case registered

A case of assault on hotel staff was registered by police in Kerala following a complaint by the victims — a young man and woman who worked ...

Trump arrives in China for talks with Xi

US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for a state visit and bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — Tru...

Cabinet approves Ahmedabad–Dholera semi high-speed rail project

The Union Cabinet approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line railway project on 13 May 2026 at an estimated cost o...

Cabinet approves ₹37,500 crore package to boost coal gasification

The Union Cabinet approved a ₹37,500-crore incentive package for coal and lignite gasification projects, with the explicit objective of redu...

Govt hikes import duty on gold, silver to 15% amid forex concerns

The government raised the import duty on gold and silver to 15% from the earlier 6%, effective May 13, 2026 — a hike of 9 percentage points,...

Cabinet clears Kharif MSP hikes, ₹37,500-crore coal gasification push to shore up economy

In a single CCEA session, the Union Cabinet approved two major economic measures: MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27, and a ₹37,500-c...

Global fire outbreaks hit record high as ‘unprecedented’ heat extremes loom, scientists say

Scientists have warned that global wildfire outbreaks reached a record high, with data showing that wildfires and extreme heat events are in...

Cabinet approves scheme to promote coal/lignite gasification projects with outlay of ₹37,500 crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) formally approved the "Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects" ...

Indian government hikes minimum support prices for kharif crops; raises paddy rate by 3%

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 mandated kharif crops for the marketing sea...

India's aspiring doctors heartbroken by exam paper leak

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to undergraduate medical courses,...

Assam's Himanta Sarma govt to present Uniform Civil Code Bill in Assembly on 26 May—who are exempted from UCC?

The Assam Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, clearing it for introduction in the state legislature on May 26, 2026. T...

IMD unveils weather model to provide ‘block level’ forecast of monsoon journey

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled a new block-level monsoon onset forecasting model that will generate probabilistic foreca...

Hindustan Petroleum Q4 net profit accelerates 46% on improved refining margins before conflict impact

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) reported a 78% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit for Q4 FY2026 (January–March 2026...

Govt approves ₹37,500-cr incentive to promote coal gasification projects

The Union government approved a financial incentive package of ₹37,500 crore to promote domestic surface coal and lignite gasification proje...

India wheat procurement tops 30-million tonne mark, heading towards target of 34.5 mt

Wheat procurement for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 crossed the 30-million-tonne mark, with the overall procurement target set at ...

Policeman, five others die in accident in Tiruppur district

A fatal road accident near a police checkpoint in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, killed six people including a police constable on duty, aft...

Mint Explainer | Why PM Modi is asking Indians to cut cooking oil consumption

Amid a West Asia crisis that strained global energy and commodity markets, India's leadership made a public appeal urging citizens to reduce...

Nicobarese oppose proposal for three wildlife sanctuaries

The Tribal Council of Campbell Bay and Nicobarese community representatives have formally opposed a proposal to establish three new wildlife...

ST quota back at 3% raises concerns over proportional representation

Karnataka has restored the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation to 3% — after a period when it was altered — prompting a debate about proportion...

India’s edible oil import bill jumps 19% in H1 of oil year 2025-26, volumes rise over 13%

India's edible oil import bill rose 19% in the first half of oil year 2025-26 (November 2025–April 2026), climbing to approximately ₹87,000 ...

Trump's proposed ‘Golden Dome’ estimated to cost $1.2 trillion, far more than he initially said

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the proposed US "Golden Dome" missile defense system could cost approximately $1.2 trillion ...

‘Economic necessity & talent-building CSR tool’—Centre urges India Inc. to scale up PM Internship Scheme

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs urged large companies to treat apprenticeship programmes as both an economic necessity and a Corporate Soc...

India doubles platinum import duty, raises costs for diesel SUVs and hybrids

The government raised the import duty on platinum to 15.4% from 6.4%, effective May 13, 2026 — effectively more than doubling the previous r...

In Delhi for BRICS meet, Iran’s Dy FM says Tehran will continue levying Hormuz ‘service fees’

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, present in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026), stated that Tehran intends ...

Republican Lindsey Graham says he ‘doesn’t trust’ Pakistan, Trump backs its role as mediator in Iran war

A US media report alleged that Pakistan permitted Iran to park military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi during the 2026 US-Iran c...

Centre more than doubles tariffs on gold, silver to defend rupee

The government raised import duties on gold and silver with effect from May 13, 2026, more than doubling the effective rate from 6% to 15%. ...

Call to strengthen enforcement against illegal wildlife trade

A three-day enforcement meet focused on combating illegal wildlife trade concluded with a call to significantly strengthen enforcement mecha...

India flexible on Palestine for BRICS FMs’ joint statement as West Asia remains a ‘fracture point’

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, in New Delhi, under India's chairship of the bloc. Eight of BRICS's e...

India targets $1 trillion exports as FTAs now cover two-thirds of global trade: Piyush Goyal

India now has preferential trade access covering two-thirds of global trade, following the conclusion of multiple free trade agreements sinc...

Govt raises paddy MSP by ₹72 to ₹2,441/quintal for 2026-27

The CCEA approved an increase of ₹72/quintal in paddy MSP for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season (procurement begins September–October 2026...

U.S. appeals court halts order declaring Trump’s global 10% tariff illegal

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 12, 2026 issued an administrative stay on an order by the US Court of International T...

All religious practices presumed protected unless they violate public order, health, morality: Centre in Sabarimala review hearing

The Supreme Court's nine-judge constitution bench, hearing the Sabarimala reference case, articulated a broad principle: all religious pract...

Government doubles import duty on gold & silver, effective rate now at 18.4%

Following the revision of gold and silver import tariffs to 15% (Basic Customs Duty 10% + AIDC 5%), the total effective import levy on gold ...

What the AMH test tells you about your fertility and what it does not

A clinically informed article explained what the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test measures, why it has become widely used in fertility asse...

How the anti defection law is going to operate in the AIADMK case?

A floor test in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly triggered a split within the AIADMK legislative party, with a faction of approximately 2...

Centre increases MSP for kharif crops, farm groups say rise inadequate amid rising input costs

The CCEA approved MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season; all notified crops maintain at least 50% return above A2+F...

Supreme Court stays Madras HC order restraining TVK MLA from participating in floor test

The Supreme Court stayed a Madras High Court order that had restrained a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly from participating in th...

Govt hikes import duty on gold, silver to 15 pc to curb non-essential imports, save forex reserves

The Finance Ministry raised the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on gold and silver from 5% to 10%, effective May 13, 2026, with the Agriculture Inf...

State MSP bonuses fuelling excess rice procurement, warns CACP

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has flagged that state governments offering bonuses above the Union Government's ann...

Import duty on gold, silver more than doubled to curb imports, support rupee

The Union government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6 percent to 15 percent, effective May 13, 2026. The revised structure c...

India-Japan seek to advance coop in critical minerals, semiconductors & ICT

The second round of the India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 11, 2026, co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretar...

Cabinet raises Minimum Support Prices for 14 kharif crops

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season...

Karnataka government withdraws 2022 hijab ban order in educational institutes, permits 'limited' religious symbols

The Karnataka state government issued a fresh dress code order withdrawing its February 2022 order that had effectively barred students from...

Assam cabinet approves implementation of UCC, bill in assembly on May 26: Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Assam Cabinet on May 13, 2026 formally approved the draft Uniform Civil Code bill for introduction in the Assam Legislative Assembly on ...

First big move in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma govt to table UCC Bill on May 26; enforces 20% fuel cut

The Assam Cabinet, in the first cabinet sitting of the newly reconstituted government after the 2026 state assembly elections, approved a dr...

Vijay's TVK passes floor test in Tamil Nadu Assembly

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu successfully passed a floor test in the State Legislative Assembly on May 13, 20...

Jaishankar holds talks with Russia’s Lavrov; trade, geopolitics top agenda

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on May 13...

'One can wake up a Hindu, have lunch as a Muslim and go to sleep as a Christian', this argument from rationalists could lead to absurdity: SC

The Supreme Court, in proceedings concerning religious conversion, reaffirmed the constitutional position that Article 25 of the Constitutio...

Operating framework for facilitating Outward Remittance services by non-bank entities through Authorized Dealer (Category I) banks in India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an operating framework governing the facilitation of outward remittance services by non-bank Paym...

India hikes gold and silver tariffs to 15% to curb imports, support rupee

The central government raised the import tariff on gold and silver to 15% effective May 13, 2026, through customs notifications issued on Ma...

Containing war impact on growth, current account: PMO stitching up plan to boost foreign fund flow

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is coordinating a multi-ministry effort to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia conflict, with of...

India books phosphate fertilizer at 40% above pre-war prices

Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL) contracted approximately 1.35 million tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer — a record volume in a single...

‘Must reflect’: India on China’s support to Pakistan in Operation Sindoor

China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview confirming that a Chinese engineer from AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Instit...

NEET-UG cancelled after 'paper leak', 23 lakh students hit, CBI to probe case

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12, 2026 — nine days after 2.27 million (approximately 23 la...

The challenge to not breach the limit

Karnataka has restructured its internal reservation quotas to remain within the 50% ceiling mandated by the Supreme Court, following the lan...

India-Oman FTA on track for June 1 start even as deal with Chile hits hurdles, says Commerce Minister

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in December 2025, is on track to come into force from June 1, 202...

Managing coexistence in human-wildlife conflict zones

A policy analysis piece published in a national daily argued that India's approach to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) must shift from reactive...

A nearly 40-year-old pending case spurs Supreme Court to declare speedy trial a ‘human right’

The Supreme Court, confronted with a criminal case pending for nearly 40 years, declared the right to speedy trial a "human right" — not mer...

A woman’s assertion of independence must not be termed ‘defiance’ in marriage: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court set aside lower court findings that had treated a married woman's independent professional decisions as acts of "cruelty" ...

CBI registers case to probe alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, forms special teams

The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a formal case following allegations of a nationwide paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examinatio...

India launches new IFAD-backed programme to boost rural incomes and climate resilience

The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jointly launched the Country Strategic Opportunities ...

Rahul Gandhi objects to CBI chief selection, alleges biased process

The high-powered selection committee responsible for recommending the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) convened a ...

New Income Tax law aims to build transparent, tech-driven ecosystem for taxpayers: Official

The Income Tax Act, 2025, came into force on April 1, 2026, replacing the Income Tax Act, 1961, which had governed direct taxation in India ...

CEA Nageswaran says West Asia crisis a balance of payments stress test; to impact CAD, inflation & exchange rate

The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran described the West Asia conflict as a "live balance of payments stress test" for Indi...

Introspect on reputational cost of aiding terror exporter Pakistan, India tells China

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal statement urging China to "introspect" on the reputational damage caused by backi...

China urges WTO to set up panel in case against India's support measures for solar, IT sectors

China formally requested the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to establish a panel to adjudicate its complaint again...

Govt eyes new employment blueprint after labour code rollout

The central government has fully operationalised the four new Labour Codes by publishing all necessary rules, completing the rollout that be...

Rahul Gandhi records dissent over CBI chief selection, alleges govt withheld crucial information

The high-powered committee constituted under the DSPE Act met on May 12, 2026 to recommend the appointment of the next CBI Director, with th...

Insurance pool of Rs 13,000 crore for Indian ships

The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) with an estimated coverage capacity of approximately ₹1...

'People's will through lawmakers can bring religious reforms': Supreme Court

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, hearing the Sabarimala reference case, cautioned that constitutional courts should be ...

Kharif reset: Farmers may ditch paddy and maize for soybean, pulses amid monsoon fears

As the kharif 2026 sowing season approaches, farmers across central India are shifting away from paddy and maize towards oilseeds (particula...

RBI cancels the licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai

The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the banking licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai, with effect from the close of business ...

PM Modi’s five-nation tour to UAE and Europe begins May 15; energy security, innovation in focus

India's Prime Minister will undertake a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, 2026, covering the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy —...

States’ interest-free capex loans to be linked to renewable energy adoption

The central government announced that a significant portion of the Rs 2 lakh crore allocated for 50-year interest-free capital investment lo...

Centre’s old age pension at Rs 200 since 2012 ‘significantly eroded’ due to inflation: Rural Development Ministry study

A study by the Ministry of Rural Development has found that the central government's contribution to the old age pension under the National ...

Private over govt schools, falling enrolment and dropout rates: Where India’s school education system stands

NITI Aayog released a major policy report on May 6, 2026, titled "School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for...

BrahMos deal in focus as Rajnath gets ready to visit Vietnam

India's Defence Minister is scheduled to visit Vietnam on May 18 and South Korea on May 20, 2026, with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile...

PM Modi’s UAE visit to focus on India’s energy security: MEA

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026, as the first stop on a five-nation tour (UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norwa...

Protests in India after medical entrance test scrapped over leak claims

The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination — conducted on May 3 for approximately 22.79 lakh candidates — after auth...

Tourism and human activity are stressing India’s tigers, affecting choice of breeding sites: CSIR-CCMB study

A multi-year study by scientists from CSIR-CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad) published in the journal *Animal Cons...

India targets China over support for Pakistan during Op Sindoor, urges nations to reflect on ‘protecting terror infra’

On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor (May 2026), China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with an engineer at the Aviation...

IMD launches pilot weather forecast within 1 km radius in UP, national roll out in 2-3 years

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in partnership with the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), launched a...

IMD unveils weather model to provide ‘block level’ forecast of monsoon journey

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled an AI-enabled block-level monsoon onset forecast model on May 12, 2026 — the first of its...

As Trump heads to China this week to meet Xi, trade, Iran and Taiwan are all on the table

The US and Chinese heads of state held a three-day summit in Beijing (May 13–15, 2026), the first such meeting by a sitting US president in ...

Pakistan parked Iranian planes on its airbases to escape U.S. airstrikes: report

Reports emerged (confirmed by satellite imagery dated April 25, 2026) that Iranian military aircraft — including an RC-130 reconnaissance va...

India has adequate stocks of fuel supply, but OMC losses could hit ₹1 lakh cr: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed that India holds approximately 60 days of crude oil supply, 60 days of LNG inventories, ...

Key events in ties among United States, China and Taiwan

The Trump administration approved an arms package worth USD 11 billion to Taiwan — the largest single arms sale to the island in history — c...

China’s Foreign Minister to skip BRICS Delhi meet over ‘scheduling reasons’

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted by India in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, ci...

CDS & Navy chief picked out, the next key defence & security appointments Centre is set to decide on

Several senior leadership posts in India's defence and security establishment are due for change simultaneously, making this a period of sig...

Foreign investors eye co-investment deals in India’s infrastructure sector: NIIF CEO

Foreign institutional investors — including sovereign wealth funds, global pension funds, and private equity firms — are increasingly explor...

Gold imports surge in India: An explainer

India's gold imports reached an all-time high of USD 71.98 billion in FY 2025–26 — a 24% increase in value over the previous year — though t...

Quality standards key to manufacturing push; toy sector turned net exporter after QCOs: Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi

Senior officials and industry experts have highlighted the toy sector's transformation into a net exporter as a model case study for how man...

Pakistan let Iran use its Nur Khan airbase to shield military aircraft from US attack, CBS report says

According to a CBS News report citing US officials, Pakistan secretly allowed Iranian military aircraft — including an Iranian Air Force RC-...

Large companies must ensure timely working capital release of MSMEs: Nageswaran

At the CII Annual Business Summit (May 12, 2026), the Chief Economic Adviser called on large companies to accept invoices from MSMEs promptl...

India OMCs face Rs 1 lakh crore losses as fuel price freeze continues

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Cor...

West Asia crisis a ‘live stress test’ for India’s balance of payments, says CEA V Anantha Nageswaran

The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) described the West Asia crisis as "not a foreign policy concern that occasionally bleeds into economic plan...

Halfway to fragile: Why India’s deteriorating macros need strict curbs

India's macroeconomic position deteriorated sharply in the wake of the West Asia conflict, with rising fiscal and current account deficits, ...

IMD to forecast monsoon arrival at block level to help farmers plan sowing

IMD's AI-powered block-level monsoon forecasting system was launched on May 12, 2026, targeting over 3,000 sub-districts (blocks) across 16 ...

‘Genuine urgency’: China’s underlying concerns at the Xi-Trump talks

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15, 2026 — the first formal b...

Gauhati HC strikes down NC Hills Autonomous Council's anti-defection law

The Gauhati High Court struck down Rule 18A of the Constitution of the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council (42nd Amendment) Act, 2017, which had i...

China moves WTO against India over solar cells, modules and tech incentives

China filed a formal WTO dispute consultation request against India in December 2025, challenging India's tariff structure and domestic-pref...

NTA cancels NEET-UG 2026, to conduct re-test after alleged paper leak

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination — held on May 3, 2026 — after inputs from central agencies and law ...

Coal gasification key to build long-term resilience against global energy shocks: Experts

Experts and industry analysts have highlighted coal gasification as India's most viable near-term hedge against global energy supply shocks,...

India gets its UPI for EV charging as Kumaraswamy unveils unified Bharat e-charge

The Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC) platform was unveiled on May 12, 2026, at a high-level meeting chaired by the Ministry of Heavy Industries...

On first PM visit to Norway in 4 decades, Modi and hosts to discuss long-term LPG deal

An Indian Prime Ministerial visit to Norway is scheduled for May 18–19, 2026 — the first such visit in 43 years, since the last one in 1983....

Policy planners outline India’s economic response after PM’s call for energy discipline

Following an appeal by the head of government for citizens to conserve fuel, reduce unnecessary foreign travel, avoid gold purchases, and sh...

India's gold imports: How it impacts our economy | An explainer

India's gold imports rose 24 percent to an all-time high of USD 71.98 billion in 2025-26, up from USD 58 billion in 2024-25, driven overwhel...

Planing 500 delegations, outreach to 1,600 industry chambers to boost FTA utilisation: Piyush Goyal

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced a comprehensive FTA utilisation plan: sending 500 trade delegations to FTA partner count...

India-Oman FTA likely to come into force from June 1: Piyush Goyal

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025, is expected to come into force on...

Moody's slashes 2026 India growth forecast to 6%

Moody's Ratings, in its Global Macro Outlook May 2026 update, cut India's GDP growth forecast for calendar year 2026 by 0.8 percentage point...

Four cheetah cubs die at Kuno in suspected leopard attack

Four one-month-old cheetah cubs were found dead at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on the morning of May 12, 2...

IMD launches two AI-enabled advanced weather forecast systems

The India Meteorological Department launched two advanced AI-powered weather forecasting systems on May 12, 2026, under the Ministry of Eart...

West Asia crisis a balance of payments stress test, India better placed to navigate: Nageswaran

The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) described the West Asia conflict as a "live balance of payments stress test," emphasising that its conseque...

GST Council to explore simplifying procedures, clarify taxation of ride-hailing apps

The GST Council is likely to meet before mid-July 2026 to consider proposals to simplify GST procedures and clarify the taxation of ride-hai...

Farmers take out rally demanding legal guarantee for MSP

Thousands of farmers under the banner of the All India United Kisan Sabha (AIUKS) held a massive rally in Yellandu town, reiterating the dem...

Two cheetahs released into wild in Kuno; CM Yadav says M.P. now recognised as ‘Cheetah State’

Two female cheetahs from Botswana — designated CCV-2 and CCV-3 — were released into the open forest zone of Kuno National Park in Sheopur di...

PM Modi to depart for 5-nation tour on Friday, beginning with UAE

India's Prime Minister is scheduled to depart on May 15, 2026 for a five-nation tour covering UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy — ...

India-US trade talks set for next round, but Section 301 probe remains hurdle

A fresh round of India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks is expected, with a US trade delegation anticipated to visit for comprehensi...

Decode Politics: Why Suvendu Adhikari govt has decided to transfer Bengal border land to BSF within 45 days

The West Bengal government approved the transfer of approximately 600 acres of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the construction ...

End of an era: VB–G RAM G to replace MGNREGA on July 1 as Centre notifies rollout

The Central Government has officially notified the rollout date for the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act...

Why PM Modi has asked Indians to reduce spending on gold, petrol, edible oils

With India's foreign exchange reserves under pressure from surging crude oil prices following the Iran conflict, attention has turned to the...

Centre notifies 1% construction welfare cess, but old BOCW challenges persist

The Central Government has issued a fresh notification reaffirming the Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) welfare cess rate at ...

India adds record 44 GW solar capacity in 2025, total reaches 150 GW

India added a record 44 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity in 2025, its highest-ever annual addition, bringing total installed solar cap...

India, Peru to hold talks on free trade pact in June

India and Peru are set to hold the next round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations in June 2026, following the most recent round concluded i...

Donald Trump eyes deal in Beijing as China gauges U.S. ‘decline’

The United States and China announced a state visit by the US President to Beijing scheduled for May 13–15, 2026 — the first such visit sinc...

1998 Pokhran nuclear tests reflected India's scientific excellence: PM on National Technology Day

May 11 is observed annually as National Technology Day, marking the anniversary of India's five nuclear weapon tests conducted at Pokhran, R...

Who are Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh, the Indian conservationists among this year’s ‘Green Oscars’ winners?

Two Indian conservationists — Dr. Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh — are among six global winners of the 2026 Whitley Awards, popularly known...

Urban unemployment rate eases to 6.6% in March quarter: PLFS

The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for January–March 2026, showing the...

Maize emerges as India’s top ethanol feedstock as supplies surpass 515 crore litres

India's cumulative ethanol supplies reached approximately 515 crore litres in the first half of Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 — nearly 4...

India to host Iranian FM Araghchi for BRICS meet this week, US Secy of State Rubio end of the month

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited New Delhi to lead Iran's delegation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on May...

China may not join alliance on conservation of big cats

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is holding its first-ever summit in New Delhi from June 1–2, 2026, under the theme "Big Cats, Save...

India expects the U.S. team to visit India for next round of trade talks, say officials

India expects a US trade delegation to visit India for the next round of trade negotiations, following the February 7, 2026 joint statement ...

Govt revises BOT guidelines, allows big funds to bid for highway projects

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revised the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) guidelines for national highway projects un...

ICMR and ICAR launch SEHAT initiative to link agriculture with public health

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) jointly launched the SEHAT initiative —...

U.S. President Trump to pay state visit to China from May 13 to 15

US President Donald Trump undertook a three-day state visit to China (May 13–15, 2026) — the first visit by a US President to China since 20...

VB-G RAM G Act explained: What changes for rural workers from July 1

The Ministry of Rural Development formally notified on May 11, 2026 that the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gram...

Asia braces for second wave of energy shocks from Iran war

Asian governments are grappling with a second, more severe wave of energy disruptions as the Iran conflict enters a prolonged phase, depleti...

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), 2025:

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

PM's appeal: Diesel consumption in agriculture can be scaled back with use of alternative energy, experts say

A high-level appeal has been made for scaling back diesel consumption in the agricultural sector, prompting expert discussion on viable alte...

Govt weighs emergency steps to protect forex reserves

The government is actively evaluating a package of emergency measures to protect India's foreign exchange reserves from accelerating depleti...

VB-G RAM G to come into force on July 1: govt.

The central government has notified that the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G) will ...

India to invest substantially in green energy corridors to support renewable energy expansion: MNRE Secretary

The Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) stated that India will make substantial investments in green energy corrido...

MGNREGA to formally cease from July 1

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

Historic Commencement of Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act Across Rural India from July 1st 2026

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

AI-enabled oversight layer for continuous electoral roll monitoring

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2.0 exercise for electoral rolls has exposed structural weaknesses in India's electoral roll revision p...

As PM Modi calls for conserving FX, what steps can India take?

With surging crude oil prices and a weakening rupee driven by the geopolitical fallout of the Iran conflict, the government has begun examin...

Ministry of MSME’s TEAM Initiative Brings End-to-End Digital Commerce Support to 5 Lakh Micro and Small Enterprises via ONDC

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is implementing the Trade Enablement and Access to Market (TEAM) Initiative, a sub-schem...

India, Peru likely to hold talks on free trade pact in June, diplomat says

India and Peru are expected to resume free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in June 2026, with Peru's Ambassador to India, Javier Paulinic...

Govt to replace MGNREGA with new rural jobs scheme G RAM G, guarantees 125 days of work at near Rs 96,000 crore budget allocation

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

'Another lazy headline-grabbing exercise': Congress on VB-G RAM G Act notification date

The Centre has notified the commencement of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, popularly know...

VB-GRAM G replaces MGNREGA from July 1 | Key details explained

The Central Government has confirmed that the VB–G RAM G Act (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin), 2025, will r...

Explained: What is the new VB-G RAM G Act and how will it replace MGNREGA?

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

India considering emergency measures to save foreign exchange

Senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, Finance Ministry, and the Reserve Bank of India held consultations on measures to protect...

PM Modi to hold talks with UAE, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian and Italian leadership in major tour from May 15–20

India's Prime Minister embarked on a five-nation tour from May 15–20, 2026, covering the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. Th...

Centre allows big funds to bid for BOT highway projects

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revised the Request for Proposal (RFP) framework for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) national h...

Venture capital and pension funds can now participate in highway PPP projects

A new government policy permits venture capital funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and pension funds to directly bid for hig...

India’s urban unemployment rate eases to 6.6% in Jan-March quarter, rural joblessness rises to 4.3%

The National Statistics Office released the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) quarterly bulletin covering the January–March 2026 qu...