The Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026 commenced in Mumbai under India’s Chair. The meeting, being held from May 11 to May 14, 2026, has brought together representatives from Kimberley Process Participants, Observers and industry stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on key issues related to the global trade in natural diamonds.
India’s Chairship theme for 2026 focuses on the 3Cs — credibility, compliance and consumer confidence in the natural diamond sector with emphasis on strengthening the future of responsibly sourced natural diamonds through constructive dialogue and international collaboration.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000), is an international initiative aimed at preventing the flow of conflict diamonds into the legitimate diamond trade.
At present, the Kimberley Process has 60 Participants representing 86 countries, with the European Union and its Member States participating as a single bloc.
India assumed the Chairship of the Kimberley Process on January 1, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening responsible sourcing, transparency and sustainability in the global diamond sector.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda has assumed charge as Chairman & Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on 09 May, 2026. Prior to this, he served as Director (Finance) of the Company and also held the additional charge of Director (Commercial) for about nine months during this period.
Dr. Panda began his journey with SAIL as a Management Trainee (Technical) in 1992 after completing his B.E. in Electrical Engineering. Over the years, he has steadily risen to the highest levels of leadership within the Company, reflecting his unwavering dedication, perseverance, and distinguished service spanning more than three decades.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri JP Nadda, and Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched the ‘SEHAT Mission’ in Delhi.
The Forum of Regulators (FOR) successfully conducted its 100th meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in its 21-year journey.
Established in 2005, the Forum of Regulators (FOR) serves as a statutory platform bringing together Central and State electricity regulatory commissions to coordinate and improve regulatory practices in the Power Sector.
Dr. Mishra also launched the “Forum of Regulators Coffee Table Book,” which chronicles the Forum’s journey, achievements, and vision for the future. Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran spoke on the evolving geopolitical landscape and India’s energy exposure in the changing global environment and the role of Power Sector in closing this gap.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced it has tied up with Airtel Payments Bank to launch co-branded RuPay cards enabled with National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) facility.
These cards will enable seamless, interoperable payments across metro systems, buses and other transit networks nationwide.
DMRC called the launch a step towards advancing integrated urban mobility. “The co-branded cards – Debit and Prepaid Payment Instrument for Mass Transit Systems (PPI–MTS) cards – will allow commuters to pay for metro travel across multiple cities and transit systems using a single open-loop card,” it said.
The move represents an upgrade from existing DMRC-issued cards, which are limited to Delhi Metro network. The transporter said the initiative is aligned with the government's One-Nation-One-Card vision aimed at simplifying and unifying transit payments across the country.
The cards will be available at all DMRC stations in the next 10 days, ensuring easy accessibility for commuters. In addition, users can recharge their cards digitally at any time through the DMRC app or the Airtel app, significantly reducing the need to queue at stations for top-ups.
The Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent during January-March quarter (Q4) of Fiscal Year 2025-26 (FY26), a research report by SBI said. Government will formally announce Q4 and FY26 growth numbes on May 29.
Q4 estimate by SBI research is bit lower than the advance estimates projection of 7.3 per cent, as made in February.
The research team tracked 50 leading indicators in consumption and demand, agri, industry, service and other indicators, which indicate a slowdown in Q4 FY26 growth (as compared to Q3 FY26). “The percentage of indicators showing acceleration is 85 per cent in Q4, compared to 83 per cent in Q3,” it said.
The research team tracked 50 leading indicators in consumption and demand, agri, industry, service and other indicators, which indicate a slowdown in Q4 FY26 growth (as compared to Q3 FY26). “The percentage of indicators showing acceleration is 85 per cent in Q4, compared to 83 per cent in Q3,” it said.
The winners of the National Panchayat Awards 2025 (NPA-2025) have been announced by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), with a total of 42 Panchayats from across the country being selected. The award distribution ceremony is scheduled to take place on 3rd June 2026 in New Delhi.
The awards are conferred under two distinct categories.
The Indian Coast Guard marked a significant enhancement in its operational capability with the commissioning of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Achal, the latest vessel in the new-generation Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel series, at Goa Shipyard Limited on May 09, 2026.
Named Achal, meaning ‘firm’, the vessel symbolizes the Indian Coast Guard’s steadfast commitment towards safeguarding national maritime interests, protecting life at sea, and ensuring the security of India’s maritime frontiers.
The ship was formally commissioned into service by Shri A. Anbarasu, Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence, in the august presence of Inspector General Tekur Sashi Kumar, Commander, Coast Guard Region (North-West), senior officials of the Central and State Governments, and representatives of Goa Shipyard Limited.
Designed and built indigenously by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited, it represents a significant milestone in India’s shipbuilding capabilities. Incorporating more than 50 percent indigenous components, the vessel underscores the nation’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing and aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched PMGSY-IV during the silver jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Bhairunda of Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district and announced a series of major projects and financial allocations related to rural roads,
housing and development for the state.
Launching PMGSY-IV, Shri Chouhan said village roads are not merely pathways for transportation but gateways to prosperity, dignity, education, healthcare, markets and opportunities.
During the programme, Madhya Pradesh received approval under PMGSY-IV for 973 roads with a total length of 2,117.52 kilometres at a total estimated cost of ₹1,763.08 crore. These projects are expected to benefit 987 habitations across the state and significantly strengthen rural connectivity.
The Vidisha parliamentary region separately received approval for 259 roads covering a total length of 600.393 kilometres. These roads are expected to benefit 264 habitations and improve transportation and connectivity across the region.
Shri Chouhan said roads worth more than Rs. 500 crore would be constructed in the Vidisha parliamentary constituency.
Under the PM-JANMAN initiative, road projects covering 384.34 kilometres received approval worth Rs. 261.81 crore. These projects are expected to benefit 168 habitations, particularly in backward and underserved regions.
Mal Anderson, the first unseeded player to win the U.S. Open men's singles title, has died aged 91, Tennis Australia said on May 11, 2026.
Anderson's career started on a dirt court on a farm and he went on to become an Australian tennis great, winning the U.S. crown in 1957 and three major doubles titles.
Although unseeded at what was then the United States Championships, Anderson beat three seeds and dropped only two sets on his way to the title.
He also won the Davis Cup twice.
After retirement Anderson mentored young Australian players including Pat Rafter, who went on to become world number one.
Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in May 12, 2026 as the Chief Minister of Assam for the second successive term, a first for a non-Congress leader in the State.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Sarma at the College of Veterinary Science Playground on the southern edge of Guwahati.
Four others — Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog of BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader Charan Boro — were also sworn in as Minister-designates.
The AGP and BPF are the constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other Union Ministers, the Chief Ministers of 22 NDA-ruled States and Union Territories, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, top industrialists, and religious leaders, including the abbots of 17 Vaishnav monasteries across Assam, attended the ceremony.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated April 27, 2026, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 1.80 lakh (Rupees One lakh eighty thousand only) on Hinduja Housing Finance Limited (the company) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI, relating to ‘Governance’.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated May 04, 2026, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 5 lakh on Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank, Mandi (the bank) for contravention of the provisions of Section 26A read with Section 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) and non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Interest Rate on Deposits’.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, have signed a renewed five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue and expand their elite youth football partnership.
Building on the first MoU signed in November 2023, the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy has already delivered strong results – a semi-final finish in the U17 AIFF Elite Youth League 2024-25, four players in the India U17 national team setup, and an Odisha girl progressing to the India U19 Women’s National Team – all within two years.
AIFF will lead the technical and operational aspects of player development, while DSYS will provide institutional, financial, and infrastructure support.
The United Nations designated 12 May as the International Day of Plant Health to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The Day is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020.
Ninety eight percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from plants. Eighty percent of the food we eat is provided by plants. But we lose as much as 40 percent of crops from pests and diseases every year, impeding efforts to provide food and nutrition for all.
At the launch of two books authored by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta about humour in the courtroom, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on May 10, 2026 said the top law officer must now turn his gaze to the Indian judicial system for his third book.
Home Minister Amit Shah spoke at the launch of the books titled ‘The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre’ and ‘The Lawful and The Awful’, which was attended by Supreme Court and High Court judges, law officers, senior advocates and others.
