In a significant boost for conservation efforts, the critically endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) has been reintroduced into the Ganga River after a three-decade absence. On 26 April 2025, twenty of these freshwater turtles were released into the Haiderpur Wetland in Uttar Pradesh, as part of the Namami Gange Mission aimed at restoring the river's ecological health.

The Haiderpur Wetland, a UNESCO Ramsar site located near the Bijnor Ganga Barrage within the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, was selected for its strategic connectivity to the Ganga, especially during the monsoon season. The turtles, sourced from the Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center under the National Chambal Sanctuary's supervision, were equipped with sonic tracking devices to monitor their adaptation and movement patterns.

This reintroduction employs both "soft" and "hard" release strategies: one group was released upstream of the Haiderpur barrage, while the other was introduced downstream into the main channel of the Ganga. This dual approach aims to assess the most effective method for reestablishing the species in its natural habitat.

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced the launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai during the WAVES 2025 event, positioning it as a national-level initiative to boost animation, gaming, and digital arts in India.

The institute, envisioned as a national hub for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC), has already commenced operations.

Several tech giants, including NVIDIA, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Star India, and Adobe, have partnered with IICT to collaborate on course development and training initiatives. The IICT is being established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,, in strategic collaboration with FICCI and CII, as a National Centre of Excellence—modeled on the lines of premier institutions like the IITs and IIMs.

The government will soon launch a new portal to monitor food storage depots in real time, ensuring they adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution announced on Thursday.

The “Depot Darpan” portal and mobile application, set to be unveiled on May 20, is part of the government’s broader initiative to enhance food security for over 80 crore beneficiaries through scientific warehousing and smart storage solutions for food grains.

The Depot Darpan platform will empower depot managers to monitor infrastructure, operational efficiency, and financial performance in near real-time. By uploading geo-tagged data on depot infrastructure, managers will receive automated ratings and actionable insights for timely improvements. The system ensures robust oversight through 100% validation by supervisory officers and random third-party audits.

The United States has announced that it has signed an economic partnership agreement with Ukraine that will allow Washington access to Kyiv’s rare earth minerals in exchange for a joint fund to invest in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Washington and Kyiv have been engaged in intense negotiations for a couple of months to reach an agreement to provide the United States with access to Ukraine’s natural resources.

A US Treasury Department press release states that the two countries have mutually agreed to form a Reconstruction Investment Fund, which would receive 50 per cent of profits and royalties accruing to the Ukrainian state from new natural resources permits. The draft states that the US does get preferential access to Ukraine’s natural resources, but Washington doesn’t get Kyiv’s mineral wealth or any gas infrastructure.

The initial agreement, due to be signed in February, fell apart after a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the Oval Office in the White House.

A team comprising top sprinters Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar and Amlan Borgohain broke the national record in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2nd Indian Open Relay Competition, held in Chandigarh yesterday.

 The quartet clocked a timing of 38.69 seconds to set a new record in the discipline. The previous record of 38.89 seconds was set at Delhi’s 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Gujarat is celebrating its statehood day today. The state came into existence on 1st May 1960 after being separated from the Bombay State on a linguistic basis. The state-level celebrations of the Foundation Day will be held in Panchmahal district in the presence of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Akashvani Correspondent reports that on Gujarat Gaurav Divas, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs. 649.77 crore in Panchmahal district. Cultural programmes will be organised at the SRP Ground in the evening in the presence of Governor Acharya Devvrat. The Governor and the Chief Minister will present the Gujarat Garima Award to six individuals for their notable contribution to the state’s development. With only 5 per cent of the population, Gujarat contributes 8.2 per cent to India’s GDP. It holds over 30 per cent share in the country’s exports, and contributes 8 per cent to India’s GST revenues.

The Election Commission has introduced new initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls and making the voting process more convenient for citizens. Our correspondent reports that these measures are in line with the initiatives envisaged by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers in March this year.

The Commission will now obtain death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India. This will ensure that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) receive timely information about registered deaths. It will also enable Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to re-verify the information through field visits. To make Voter Information Slips more voter-friendly, the Commission has decided to modify their design. The serial number and part number of the voter will now be displayed more prominently. The Commission has also directed that all BLOs will be issued standard photo identity cards to ensure that citizens can recognise and interact confidently with BLOs during voter verification and registration drives.

The goods and services tax (GST) collection reached a new record in April, rising by 12.6% year-on-year to Rs 2.37 lakh crore, as per government data released on Wednesday. This is the highest monthly collection since the tax was introduced in 2017.

The rise in GST revenue for April follows a strong performance in recent months. In March, GST collections stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore, showing a 9.9% rise from the same period last year. In February, the total GST collection was Rs 1.83 lakh crore, growing 9.1% year-on-year, driven mainly by strong domestic consumption. January’s figure had also touched Rs 1.96 lakh crore, reflecting a 12.3% increase.

Looking further back, GST revenue in December was Rs 1.77 lakh crore, up 7.3% year-on-year. However, this growth was lower than the 8.5% rise recorded in November, which saw slower activity after the festive season spending had ended.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was seen in a light-hearted mood during the launch of a book on Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel's life on Thursday, drawing laughter from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others present.

Speaking at the release of Governor Patel's biography titled "Chunautiyan Mujhe Pasand Hain" (I Like Challenges), Mr Dhankhar humorously referred to the book's title while pointing towards his wife, Sudesh Dhankhar.

He said, "Aapne (Governor Anandiben Patel) apni kitaab ka sheershak rakha hai 'Chunautiyan Mujhe Pasand Hain'. 1 February 1979 ko maine chunauti se saat phere le liye. Saath jeevan jeene ka wada kar liya. Chunauti ke saath rehne ki mujhe aadat hai." (You've titled your book 'I Like Challenges'. On February 1, 1979, I took seven vows with a challenge. I promised to live together for life. I am used to living with the challenge.)

International Labour Day, sometimes referred to as May Day, is observed worldwide on May 1st each year. This day honours the industrious people whose commitment and work have moulded economies and communities all around the world. Not only should their efforts be honoured, but they should also be empowered to understand their rights.

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, has developed into a powerful representation of social justice, solidarity, and the ongoing fight for workers' rights. As we count down to International Labour Day 2025, let us know its origin, theme, and the intriguing differences in its observance around the world.