Development activist and leadership trainer R. Balasubramaniam and economist K. V. Raju from Karnataka have been appointed as full-time members of NITI Aayog by the Centre. This marks the first time that two distinguished professionals from the State have been appointed simultaneously to the policy-making body.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chairman of the NITI Aayog, reconstituted the body by appointing new members. Economist Ashok Lahiri, former BJP MLA in West Bengal, has been appointed as vice-chairman.

Media mogul Ted Turner, who pioneered the modern 24-hour news culture when he launched the CNN channel, has died at the age of 87, the network has announced.

In 1980, Turner launched Cable News Network as the first dedicated rolling news channel, which soon became a central part of the media landscape.

US President Donald Trump paid tribute to him as "one of the greats of broadcast history, and a friend of mine".

Current CNN CEO and chairman Mark Thompson described Turner as "the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world".

The Indian Cabinet on Tuesday approved the much-awaited Mission for Cotton Productivity with an estimated expenditure of ₹5,659.22 crore over a five-year period (2026–27 to 2030–31) which is aimed at addressing the sector’s bottlenecks, declining growth, and quality concerns.

The Cotton Mission was proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech in February 2025 and the government has formulated it after 15 months.

“The Mission envisages accomplishing the production of 498 lakh bales (170 kg each bale) of cotton by enhancing lint productivity from 440 kg/hectare to 755 kg/hectare by 2031. Approximately 32 lakh farmers will be benefitted leading to self-reliance. Promotion of Kasturi Cotton Bharat for traceability and certification, targeting trash reduction <2 per cent and promotion of natural fibres like flax, ramie, sisal, milkweed, bamboo and banana. This is a milestone in making the country self-reliant in Cotton Sector,” the government said in a statement.

Sameer Sanjay Pote has assumed charge as the 19th Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) on 1 May 2026, succeeding Chetan C Chandegave in a key leadership transition for India’s submarine arm.

Distinguished Naval Career

An alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Pote was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1996.

An Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist, he brings extensive operational and staff experience to the role, strengthening the Navy’s underwater warfare capabilities.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to strengthen collaboration in digital forensics, cybersecurity, and advanced technology research.

The MoU was formally exchanged between Vivek Chandra Verma, CEO of UIDAI, and S. O. Junare, Director of the Gujarat Campus of NFSU.

Strengthening India’s Digital Security Ecosystem

The strategic partnership aims to create a structured framework for cooperation in areas critical to safeguarding India’s digital infrastructure. With cyber threats and digital fraud on the rise, the collaboration is expected to accelerate research, capacity building, and innovation in emerging technologies.

Hindustan Zinc Limited has been honoured with the Jury Award for Best Sustainable & Green Logistics at the LogiShakti Summit 2026, recognising the company’s commitment to environmentally responsible supply chain practices.

Recognition for Greener Supply Chain Initiatives
The award highlights Hindustan Zinc’s continued efforts to transform logistics operations with sustainability at the core. The company has been actively rethinking supply chains, adopting greener transportation strategies, and implementing eco-friendly operational practices.

This recognition underscores the growing importance of sustainable logistics within India’s industrial and manufacturing ecosystem.

NLC India Limited has signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the EDF – France, a French multinational electric utility company owned by the Government of France, on 27.04.2026 for exploring potential development of nuclear project in India. This signals a bold step towards expanding the Nation’s nuclear capacity.

EDF-France is the largest nuclear operator worldwide owned by the Government of France with a unique experience across the entire nuclear lifecycle, developed notably as owner-operator of Pressurized Water Reactors (“PWR”) and as engineering, procurement and construction contractor of European Pressurized Reactors (“EPR”) in France and abroad. EDF is engaged in a long-term cooperation with India to support its nuclear new build ambitions and is willing to be involved in any new nuclear project in India

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated a two-day National Conference on Rare Diseases in New Delhi on May 5-6, marking a significant step toward strengthening India's response to rare diseases. The conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss challenges, promote innovation, and enhance strategies for managing rare conditions across the country.

Addressing the gathering, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the conference seeks to understand stakeholder concerns and generate new ideas to improve rare disease care. She noted that rare diseases were first recognised in the National Health Policy, 2017, and later institutionalised through the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, placing India among countries with a structured framework in this domain.

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday signed a contract worth ₹1,476 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad, for the procurement of five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems for the Indian Army.

The agreement was formalised in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in the national capital.

According to the Ministry, the systems will be procured under the ‘Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)’ category, with a minimum indigenous content of 72 per cent. The move is aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and enhancing self-reliance in defence production.

Officials said the induction of these systems will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army by improving its electronic warfare preparedness and mobility in diverse terrains.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan inaugurated a conference on Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): Expanding Neural Frontiers and its strategic implications at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi on Tuesday. Defence Ministry in a statement said that the conference was organized by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies. It informed that the discussions held during the conference focused on the role of BCI in future warfare, human-machine integration and indigenous innovation. Deliberations during the conference also addressed ethical considerations, neuro-security challenges, and the role of BCI in enhancing operational efficiency, rehabilitation, and decision-making in complex operational environments. The event also called for stronger synergy among Armed Forces, academia and industry to harness frontier technologies for national security.

The event also witnessed participation of ten start-ups, which displayed and demonstrated innovative devices, products, and technologies related to Brain-Computer Interface systems.