Markets regulator Sebi on Monday proposed a new green-channel mechanism -- GARUDA-- for alternative investment funds (AIFs) to launch schemes to 10 working days of filing their placement memorandums from the current 30 days, in a bid to speed up the deployment of capital by them.

GARUDA, or Green-Channel: AIF Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement, aims to streamline the Processing of Placement Memorandums (PPMs) filed with Sebi and further ease fundraising by AIFs.

Under the proposal, regular AIF schemes would be allowed to launch within 10 working days of filing the PPM with Sebi through a merchant banker, unless the regulator raises objections.

The Indian Council of Medical Research and Indian Council of Agricultural Research on Monday jointly launched a national programme to integrate agriculture, nutrition and public health so that agricultural advances translate into improved health outcomes.

The “SEHAT - Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation” initiative was launched in the presence of Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of senior policymakers, scientists and stakeholders.

Nadda said India has, over the past decade, moved from a reactive and curative healthcare model to a preventive, proactive and holistic approach.

Aerospace and defence major Rolls-Royce Plc is borrowing from the India playbook of British energy giant BP Plc as it pursues billions of dollars worth of opportunities across defence, civil aviation and nuclear energy in the country.

To lead that push, Rolls-Royce has turned to Sashi Mukundan, the former head of BP’s India business, who spent 24 years building the energy company’s partnerships in the country across gas, fuel retail and mobility ventures.

The man who recruited him: Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic, who himself spent two decades at BP, including five years leading its downstream business.

The Indian Coast Guard on Monday conducted the girder laying ceremony for the fourth, fifth and sixth Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) being built for the force at the Rassaim Yard of Chowgule Shipyard in Goa.

The ACVs are being manufactured under the Centre’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with around 50 per cent indigenous content, the Ministry of Defence said.

The contract for six indigenously designed and constructed ACVs was signed between the Coast Guard and Chowgule & Company Private Limited in October 2024.

According to the ministry, the modern air cushion vehicles will be used for multiple maritime operations, including high-speed coastal patrolling, reconnaissance in shallow waters and marshy terrain, deep-sea operations, interception and interdiction missions, and search and rescue activities.

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has launched the ‘Karnataka Advanced Attendance Management System (Kartavya-KAAMS) to identify and monitor the attendance of permanent teaching and non-teaching staff and officers.

The Kartavya-KAAMS is an artificial intelligence (AI) and geographic information system (GIS) enabled facial recognition mobile app.

Mr Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal today at a ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Five Cabinet Ministers also took the oath along with the Chief Minister.

The Governor R N Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers. The Cabinet Ministers are Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik and Kshudiram Tudu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states, were present on the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.

Earlier, the Prime Minister held a road show before reaching Brigade Ground.

The much-awaited Maharashtra State Compressed Biogas (CBG) Policy 2026 was officially approved and released on May 5, 2026. Stakeholders across the state have been eagerly anticipating this framework, which is designed to upscale a sector where Maharashtra already holds a strong position. The state currently ranks third in India with 24 commissioned CBG plants, trailing only Uttar Pradesh (40) and Gujarat (25).

The policy rightly emphasises the utilisation of municipal organic waste, agricultural residues, and other biodegradable materials as primary raw materials. It aims to empower local self-government bodies to efficiently segregate, collect, and process waste, promoting its use in the CBG sector. By focusing on a circular economy, the state intends to reduce the burden on landfills, improve public health, enhance environmental quality, and significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Karnataka government has finally appointed retired Karnataka High Court judge Ramachandra D. Huddar as chairperson for the Admission Overseeing Committee (AOC) for professional courses.

Judge B. Manohar’s term as AOC chairperson had ended in October 2024.

The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will succeed General Anil Chauhan, who is set to complete his tenure on May 30.

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani is currently serving as the Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a position he has held since September 1, 2025.

Prior to this, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. He also held the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024.

Former Vice Chief of the Indian Army Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (retd) has been appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will succeed Gen Anil Chauhan, who retires on May 31.

The Government has also appointed Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the present Western Navy Commander, as the next Chief of the Indian Navy. He will succeed Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who is retiring from service on May 31.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

Both appointments were announced on Saturday morning.

The government order announcing the appointment of Lt Gen Subramani as CDS stated that he “will continue until further orders”.