Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch India’s first sustainability-linked dealer financing programme in the automotive sector, offering authorised Mahindra dealers preferential interest rates on vehicle loans tied to their environmental performance.

Under the programme, dealers will be ranked against a set of ESG parameters drawn from Mahindra’s Green Dealership Programme. These include greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, water consumption, renewable energy use, rainwater harvesting, waste management, availability of public EV charging facilities, and the volume of eSUVs sold. Dealers that meet defined thresholds on these metrics — alongside sales targets — will receive commercial benefits on loans used to purchase passenger and commercial vehicles from the manufacturer.

India’s ambitious mission to Venus, Shukrayaan mission, has received an international boost with Sweden formally joining the project during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sweden.

An agreement was signed between Indian Space Research Organisation and the Swedish National Space Agency to collaborate on the Venus mission, marking a significant expansion of scientific cooperation between the two countries in planetary exploration.

While discussions regarding Sweden’s participation in the mission had already been underway, the collaboration was formally acknowledged through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the high-level diplomatic engagement.

India has taken another important step towards strengthening its indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the final development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3, marking a significant achievement for the country’s defence sector.

The trials were conducted in both air-to-ground and air-to-air modes at the DRDO test range near Kurnool. During the tests, the missile system was operated through an advanced integrated Ground Control System (GCS) designed to automate launch and operational readiness. The trials successfully demonstrated the missile’s precision strike capability, reliability and effectiveness in varied combat scenarios.

The Union government has notified new fuel standards for petrol blended with up to 30 per cent ethanol, the next step in the government’s push towards higher ethanol use in transport fuels as it looks to cut crude oil imports and expand its domestic biofuels ecosystem.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified specifications for E22, E25, E27 and E30 fuel blends, according to a Gazette notification published last week. The standards cover “admixture of anhydrous ethanol and motor gasoline for usage in the positive ignition engine-powered vehicles”.

The BIS notification, however, only lays down the technical specifications required for such blends to be introduced in the market; it does not mandate immediate nationwide sale of E30 fuel.

Shyam Metalics, one of the country’s leading metal conglomerates, on Tuesday (May 19) announced Rs 20,000 crore investment in West Bengal in the coming years. The company’s Chairman and Managing Director said they are hoping for an easier path ahead for industrial growth after the change in government.

“We employ over 25,000 people in Bengal and we plan to increase it to at least 45,000 in the next few years. With the new era in the State, we think a lot of central funds will come for better development,” CMD, Brij Bhushan Agarwal said on Tuesday.

They are also set to launch a railway manufacturing unit in Kharagpur and will invest at least ₹4,000 crores in this project in the coming years. They recently acquired a factory plant that has been closed for almost 15 years, and are set to commission work in that factory by this year’s end. 

India and South Korea on Tuesday formalised a new defence cooperation agreement focused on cybersecurity and information sharing during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Seoul.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Singh and South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-Back as part of efforts by both countries to deepen strategic and military coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.

The agreement aims to expand collaboration in areas linked to cyber defence, intelligence exchange and the protection of sensitive military infrastructure. It also seeks to strengthen institutional frameworks for sharing defence-related information and improving regional security coordination.

Nepal's mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa made history on Sunday by breaking his own world record for the highest number of ascents of Mt. Everest as he scaled the world's highest peak for the 32nd time.

The 56-year-old veteran climber reached the 8,849-metre peak at 10:12 am on Sunday, according to the Department of Tourism.

He was leading an expedition operated by 14 Peaks Expedition, it said.

The successful ascent was confirmed by the department's field office stationed at Everest Base Camp, reported The Kathmandu Post.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being conferred with Sweden’s highest honour for a Head of Government, the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross. In a social media post, Mr Goyal said that it is the moment of national pride. Mr Goyal added that this marks the 31st international honour bestowed upon the Prime Minister, reflecting Mr Modi’s global admiration and the growing respect for India under his leadership.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being conferred with the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross by Sweden. In a social media post, Mr Birla said, this prestigious recognition reflects the visionary leadership and the growing respect for India across the world. He added that this honour will further strengthen and deepen the bonds of friendship and strategic partnership between India and Sweden. Lok Sabha Speaker further said that it is a moment of immense pride and inspiration for every Indian.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday visited the iconic Dutch water management project Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway that has become a global benchmark in flood control and land reclamation.

Modi was accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The visit came at a time when the two countries had signed a Letter of Intent with regard to the Kalpasar project in Gujarat. The Letter of Intent was signed between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for technical cooperation.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The visit underscored the shared commitment of both nations to innovative water management solutions, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure.”

President Droupadi Murmu has approved an increase in the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, through the promulgation of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. According to the gazette notification, published by the Law and Justice Ministry, the ordinance amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. With this amendment, the total strength of the apex court, including the Chief Justice of India, will rise to 38 judges.