Current Affairs

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates BrahMos Aerospace Testing Facility at Lucknow, UP

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic will. Virtually inaugurating the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow this afternoon, Mr Singh said, this operation is also a demonstration of India’s strong will against terrorism and the capability and determination of the military power.

He said, whenever India takes any action against terrorism, even the land across the border will not be safe for the terrorists and their masters. Mr Singh said, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor with the aim of destroying the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and never targeted their civilians. But Pakistan not only targeted civilian areas of India but also tried to attack temples, gurudwaras and churches.



Rajnath Singh hails contribution of India’s scientists, engineers and technicians on National Technology Day

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday hailed the contributions of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians on the occasion of National Technology Day.

In a post on X, Singh said, “On National Technology Day, India salutes the scientists, engineers and technicians who contribute by developing new technologies for bringing positive change in our lives.”

The Defence Minister also recalled India’s Nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998.

“We proudly recall the exceptional efforts of our scientists that led to the successful Pokhran tests in 1998. It was a defining moment in India’s history,” Rajnath Singh said.



India's Anahat Singh to feature in World Squash Championships 2024-2025

India's Anahat Singh will compete in the upcoming World Squash Championships 2024-2025, which will be played at Chicago, the United States of America, from Friday.

The 2025 World Squash Championships, which run from May 9 to 17, as per the Olympics.com.

Anahat, still just 17, is fast becoming one of India's top bets in world squash. The youngster has been in inspired form since her double bronze medal win at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games in the People's Republic of China two years ago.



PCB postpones remaining 8 matches of Pakistan Super League

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the postponement of the remaining eight matches of the Pakistan Super League, hours after promising that they would play out the rest of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

The announcement comes amidst rising tensions at the India-Pakistan border, where India thwarted Pakistan's drone and missile attacks on May 8 and 9.

The PCB stated in its release that they had to shut down the event amidst "worsening conditions at the LOC (Line of Control)" in the last 24 hours.

The escalation of events between the two countries came after Pakistan decided to shell heavy artillery in the Kashmir region following India's precision strikes on terror facilities. India was forced to strike nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam last month.



SBI, private banks sell 20% Yes Bank stake to SMBC for ?13,482 cr

State Bank of India (SBI) and seven private sector lenders that had invested in Yes Bank during its reconstruction in 2020, will together sell 20 per cent stake in the bank to Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for ₹13,482 crore, in the largest cross-border deal in the Indian banking sector.

Apart from SBI, the seven private banks having stake in Yes Bank are: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Federal Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Bandhan Bank.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and statutory approvals, including from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Competition Commission of India (CCI).



Bengaluru launches state-run water tankers at subsidised rates amid crisis

In a bid to tackle the city’s water scarcity and reduce dependence on unregulated private tankers, the Karnataka government on Thursday launched ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ — a government-managed, tech-enabled drinking water delivery system — offering doorstep delivery of BIS-certified Cauvery water at subsidised rates.

Launched by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in front of the Vidhana Soudha, the initiative is to ensure affordable and accountable water supply, particularly to those living in areas where piped Cauvery water has not yet reached. The scheme comes at a time when concerns over groundwater depletion and the so-called “tanker mafia” are mounting across Bengaluru.

Under Sanchari Cauvery, residents can book water tankers via a new mobile app or web portal, track delivery vehicles in real-time using GPS, make online payments and verify the delivery through a mandatory OTP system. The service promises delivery within 24 hours, even during high-demand periods, and is supported by a 24/7 helpline for grievances. All tankers will carry drinking water certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).



India’s sovereign credit rating upgraded to ‘BBB’ with stable outlook by Morningstar DBRS

Morningstar DBRS on Friday upgraded India’s sovereign credit rating to 'BBB' with a stable outlook, up from 'BBB (low)', citing structural reforms, infrastructure investments, and fiscal consolidation as key drivers. The global credit rating agency also raised India’s Short-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Ratings to 'R-2 (high)' from 'R-2 (middle)', maintaining a stable outlook.

The upgrade reflects India’s efforts to balance persistent fiscal challenges against strong growth prospects underpinned by robust investments in infrastructure and digitalisation, Morningstar DBRS said in a report.

"From a cyclical perspective, the country’s macroeconomic balances look healthy. Inflation has returned to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 4% (±2%). The external sector is strong, and a sound policy framework has helped the economy navigate challenging global conditions," Morningstar DBRS said in the report.



IIFCL net profit soars 39% to record of Rs 2,165 crore in FY'25

India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) on Thursday reported a 39 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 2,165 crore for the fiscal ended in March 2025 on account of improvement in core income.

The state-owned infrastructure finance company had earned a net profit of Rs 1,552 crore in the previous fiscal.

The company recorded its all-time high performance, for the fifth year in a row with record Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 2,776 crore, recording a growth of 37 per cent over the previous year’s PBT of Rs 2,029 crore, IIFCL managing director PR Jaishankar said while announcing annual financial numbers.



Startups get boost as govt raises credit guarantee cover to ?20 crore

In a bid to improve access to capital for startups, the government on Friday expanded the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS). The revised scheme doubles the maximum guarantee cover per borrower to ₹20 crore from ₹10 crore.

The enhanced guarantee cover will boost credit availability for startups and drive innovation, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said in a notification.

In addition to expanding the overall cover, the extent of guarantee has also been increased. For loans up to ₹10 crore, the guarantee will now cover 85 per cent of the amount in default, while for loans above ₹10 crore, the coverage will be 75 per cent.



10th International Trade Fair begins in Nepal

The ongoing 10th International Trade Fair organised in Bhrikutimandap was inaugurated by the Commerce Minister of Nepal, Damodar Bhandari. The five-day-long fair has 120 pavilions across Nepal, China, Ukraine, Bangladesh and Turkey. 40 stalls from China had EV vehicles, electronic goods, agricultural tools, a clothing range, home decor, with a major attraction of incense from Tibet.

Nepal Handicrafts like wood sculptures, jewellery, ritualistic utensils, Himalayan herbs, tea, coffee, spices, processed agricultural produce and Made in Nepal clothes are highlights of the event. Several exhibits talked about their products, and Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Umesh Dalmia, informed about how Nepal is planning to attract visitors like the International Trade Fair organised in Pragati Maidan in Delhi.

The trade fair aims to provide a platform for business-to-business connections for an international market.