India

Sunny Joseph hinted that the Congress high command may soon announce Kerala’s next chief minister, saying “white smoke can be expected soon.” Discussions continue in New Delhi among senior leaders as the party seeks consensus following the UDF’s Assembly election victory

The National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of irregularities. The Government of India has ordered a CBI inquiry, while the NTA announced that the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be announced shortly.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rejected CV Shanmugam’s claims of post-poll alliance talks with the AIADMK, accusing him of attempting to trigger internal divisions within his party. DMK leader R S Bharati reiterated that the party would function as the opposition

Arvind Kejriwal criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over proposed austerity measures, questioning the country’s economic condition and why sacrifices were demanded mainly from the middle class. He also linked the appeal to global tensions, including the America-Iran conflict

Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his call to abolish Sanatana Dharma in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, calling it divisive. He also criticised protocol changes involving Tamil Thai Vazhthu and vowed the opposition would protect Tamil traditions while acting as a constructive democratic force

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay ordered closure of 717 TASMAC liquor outlets, including shops near temples, schools and bus stands, amid growing prohibition demands. Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam dismissed the move as a publicity stunt, questioning the government’s sincerity and intent behind the decision

Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour outstanding nursing professionals across India on International Nurses Day. The awards, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, recognise exemplary service, compassion, and dedication in healthcare

National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 following alleged irregularities and inputs from law enforcement agencies, and announced that it will be re-conducted on later dates. The government has also referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed probe into suspected paper leak claims

CSIR-Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee has transferred 13 indigenous technologies to industries and startups, focusing on sustainable construction, fire safety, and energy-efficient infrastructure. The initiative, under National Technology Day, supports innovation-driven development and the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat

The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe into the killing of Chandranath Rath, aide of West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari, forming a Special Investigation Team to examine possible interstate and conspiracy angles. The case involves a suspected planned shooting near Kolkata, with multiple arrests already made

Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in for a second consecutive term as Chief Minister of Assam at a grand ceremony in Guwahati, marking the formation of the third straight NDA government in the state. The National Democratic Alliance secured a strong majority with 102 seats in the 126-member assembly

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has set up a Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee, headed by Justice Aravind Kumar, to assess court infrastructure needs across India and propose a Rs 40,000–50,000 crore upgrade plan. The panel will focus on modernisation, digitisation under e-Courts, and improving judicial efficiency

A tiger was found dead in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, with officials suspecting it died in a territorial fight with another big cat. The eight-year-old tiger, nicknamed Pujari, showed injury marks, and an investigation is underway following NTCA guidelines

Shiv Sena UBT’s Saamana editorial claimed Tamil Nadu saw a political shift as Vijay’s TVK formed government, ending DMK–AIADMK dominance. It highlighted slim majority concerns, central influence, and early welfare measures, while noting challenges for stability, governance, and fiscal discipline

India’s gold imports hit a record $71.98 billion in 2025-26 despite lower import volumes, driven mainly by soaring global prices and safe-haven demand amid West Asia tensions. Rising imports widened India’s trade deficit, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge austerity and postpone gold purchases

Indian benchmark indices extended losses for a second session amid geopolitical tensions, with Sensex and Nifty falling nearly 0.5 percent. IT, financial and realty stocks led declines, while metal and oil sectors gained. Analysts highlighted pharmaceuticals, FMCG and capital goods as relatively resilient sectors despite market volatility

Samsung denied Dua Lipa’s lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of her image on TV packaging, saying a content partner assured all permissions were secured. Lipa seeks $15 million damages over alleged copyright, trademark, and publicity rights violations tied to a 2024 backstage festival photograph 

The Centre reduced royalty rates on offshore deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production to boost exploration and ease industry costs amid global energy volatility. The revised framework lowers levies for initial production years while retaining existing rates for onland and shallow-water categories

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by C. Joseph Vijay faces its first Assembly test with Speaker elections. Senior leader J.C.D. Prabhakar is expected to win unopposed amid a deepening leadership crisis within the opposition AIADMK.

Despite Telangana’s progress in school enrolment and educational access, child absenteeism in rural schools persists, widening learning gaps and increasing dropout rates

Suvendu Adhikari needs to act responsibly and contribute to preserving the State’s inclusive social fabric

India’s under-17 girls boxing team produced an impressive performance at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, with eight boxers storming into the finals and four securing bronze medals, keeping the country in strong contention for multiple gold medals in the tournament

David Miller and Axar Patel produced explosive half-centuries as Delhi Capitals pulled off a record chase of 211 against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. The thrilling three-wicket victory kept DC alive in the IPL playoff race while Punjab suffered a fourth consecutive defeat

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP government of turning NEET-UG 2026 into an “auction” amid alleged paper leak reports, while Congress leaders slammed recurring exam irregularities. The NTA defended the examination process, saying strict security measures were implemented and investigations are ongoing