The Department of General Administration has issued orders appointing N.S.K Umesh, Director of General Education, as the Additional Secretary and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister of Kerala.

An IAS officer of the 2015 batch of Kerala cadre, Mr. Umesh has previously served as the District Collector of Ernakulam. He currently holds the additional responsibility as the Managing Director of Kerala Financial Corporation.

A team of scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on May 18 shared a report of the findings of the ‘Hop’ experiment conducted by the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3 and the Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) on the moon.

The researchers noted, “While we often call it lunar soil, the more apt term to be used is lunar regolith. The lunar regolith is actually shattered rock, tiny, jagged glass-like shards that are abrasive and cling to everything.”

They also pointed out that the complex structure of regolith has unique geo-technical and thermophysical properties. They said the top 2-6 cm regolith is found to be highly cohesive or sticky and hyper-porous, which can act as a thermal blanket.

The Indian Army on Wednesday launched the multinational military exercise – PRAGATI 2026 – at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya, bringing together troops from India and 12 partner nations for an intensive counter-terrorism and joint warfare drill.

Taking place in the rugged semi-mountainous and jungle terrain of the Northeast, the exercise comes at a time when India is increasingly positioning itself as a key regional security partner in the Indo-Pacific and South Asian region.

PRAGATI is a multinational military exercise hosted by India that focuses on enhancing cooperation among friendly foreign armies, particularly in counter-terrorism operations, tactical coordination, intelligence-sharing and interoperability during joint missions.

The 2026 edition is being conducted at the strategically located Umroi Military Station near Shillong in Meghalaya, an area chosen because its dense forests, hills and difficult terrain closely resemble conditions in which modern counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations are often carried out.

The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has earned a place among the world’s top five water utilities at the Global Water Summit 2026 in Madrid, marking a major international recognition for the city’s water management efforts.

Global recognition

According to the report, BWSSB is the only Indian water utility to feature in the top five across three major award categories at the summit, held from May 18 to May 20 in Madrid. The board was recognised for its work in water conservation, wastewater recycling, reuse and sustainable urban water governance, which it describes as its “five pillars” approach.

The Assam government has shelved the survey of a proposed satellite township near an upcoming semiconductor plant in Morigaon district following protests from two ethnic groups.

The Tata Group is setting up the ₹27,000-crore semiconductor plant, expected to produce up to 48 million semiconductor chips per day.

With a view to strengthening international air connectivity and boosting religious tourism, the Bihar cabinet on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) approved ₹10.40 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to operate direct flights between Gaya Ji and Bangkok.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. A total of 13 agendas were approved at the meeting.

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday issued final amendment directions dispensing with the need to maintain Investment Fluctuation Reserve requirement for banks that already maintain capital charge for market risk and follow the revised norms governing classification, valuation and operation of investment portfolios.

The IFR acts as a buffer maintained by banks to absorb valuation losses in their investment portfolios arising from interest rate movements and market volatility.

In a statement, the central bank said the amended framework seeks to rationalise IFR requirements, harmonise regulatory instructions across regulated entities and remove inconsistencies in the existing regime.

The IAF on Monday said Squadron Leader Saanya has achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification.

The Indian Air Force, in a post on X, said it marks a proud milestone for the IAF and is an inspiration for aspiring aviators across the nation.

It also shared photos of IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh felicitating the officer.

"Excellence takes flight. Sqn Ldr Saanya has achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification. Her achievement embodies dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

The United States will host the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 30-31 as Washington steps up preparations for a series of high-profile global summits later this year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday that the meeting would bring together foreign ministers from the world’s leading economies to advance the G20’s core mission of promoting global stability and prosperity.

The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening international cooperation, addressing global economic challenges and supporting open markets and resilient supply chains, according to the State Department statement.

A 23-year-old politician representing a local council in eastern England has created history by becoming the youngest Indian-origin Mayor in the United Kingdom

Tushar Kumar, a former student of Political Science from King's College London, took charge as the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood at a ceremony last week.

The Labour councillor joined the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in 2023 and previously served in the role of Deputy Mayor.