Tripura has created history by becoming the first State in India to complete all Priority Areas under Deregulation Phase-II of the national Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative led by the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India.
With this achievement, the State has also become the first in the country to complete all 51 Priority Areas under both Phase-I and Phase-II of the reform programme, strengthening its position as a leader in regulatory reforms, Ease of Doing Business, and technology-driven governance.
The reforms, launched in January 2026, focused on reducing compliance burdens, removing unnecessary procedures, digitising approvals and building a transparent and investor-friendly administrative system across sectors, including Revenue, Urban Development, Industries, Labour, Environment, Tourism, Health, Education, and Digital Governance.
A major focus of the initiative was simplifying land and urban governance processes. The State introduced self-certification-based Change of Land Use in areas aligned with Master Plans and environmental safeguards, significantly reducing delays in approvals. The Single Window Approval Agency (SWAAT) was strengthened, overlapping No Objection Certificates were rationalised,
and several low-risk approvals were automated through self-certification mechanisms.
The government also removed dual licensing requirements to eliminate regulatory duplication.
In the industrial sector, investor-friendly reforms were introduced to allow businesses to begin operations through self-declaration systems, along with inspection exemptions for up to three years in certain categories.
Environmental governance and infrastructure services were also streamlined through faster environmental clearance processes and simplified procedures for electricity connections, including the removal of mandatory field inspections within prescribed limits.
ICICI Bank, in partnership with Visa, has launched India’s first USD-denominated debit card from its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gujarat, marking a significant step in expanding premium global banking solutions for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
The card is linked to ICICI Bank’s USD Global Savings Account and is built on Visa’s premium Infinite platform, enabling seamless international transactions and enhanced global accessibility.
The newly introduced debit card allows customers to directly utilise their USD savings for payments at ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and e-commerce platforms worldwide.
ne of its key highlights is zero markup on USD transactions conducted globally through PoS and online platforms, helping NRIs avoid currency conversion costs often associated with cross-border payments.
The launch reflects the growing focus on creating internationally connected financial products from GIFT City, India’s emerging global financial and IT services hub.
In a special ceremony hosted in Gothenburg, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross,’ one of Sweden’s oldest and most distinguished honours, instituted in the 18th century.
The award is Sweden’s highest honour conferred on foreign Heads of Government in recognition of exceptional public service and contribution towards strengthening relations with Sweden.
Prime Minister Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.
The conferment of the award marks a milestone in the India-Sweden Strategic Partnership and reflects the shared commitment of the two countries to advancing bilateral cooperation and contributing to global peace and prosperity.
Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mr Rob Jetten during their meeting at the Hague on 16 May 2026 agreed to elevate the India-Netherlands bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by following focused, time bound initiatives and joint plans of action.
To this end, India and the Netherlands adopted the Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership for the next 5 years (2026-2030).
India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle, an endangered species, was released in the 1,302 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam on May 15, 2026.
The release of the freshwater reptile coincided with the observation of Endangered Species Day.
Assam is one of the world’s top priority areas in freshwater turtle conservation. Of the eight soft-shell turtles reported from India, five are known from the Kaziranga landscape.
The Ganges soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, can be differentiated from other riverine turtles by its distinct arrowhead-shaped markings on the top of the head. In India, the species inhabits large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Recorded as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, this large turtle is a major river predator and helps clean up the system by feeding on dead and decaying animal matter.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on May 13, 2026 approved a semi high-speed double line rail project linking Sarkhej in Ahmedabad to Dholera, which lies about 100 km away, for a total cost of approximately Rs. 20,667 crore.
The project will facilitate faster travel between Ahmedabad, the Dholera special investment region (SIR), the upcoming Dholera Airport, and the (NHMC). It will also enhance connectivity to 284 villages, with a total population of about 5 lakh, and expand the existing network of Indian Railways by about 134 km.
This is part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistical efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. Such projects will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services, the statement added.
Elina Svitolina claimed a third Italian Open title on May 16, 2026 by beating Coco Gauff, who lost in the final in Rome for the second straight year.
In the men's final on May 17, 2026, home favourite Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud.
Svitolina took nearly three hours to prevail 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 and win her first WTA 1000 title since lifting the title in Rome in 2018.
The Ukrainian also won in 2017.
Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the trophy on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella also slated to attend the men's final.
Senior Congress leader V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala along with 20 Ministers at a ceremony held at a packed Central Stadium in ThiruvananthapuramMay 18, 2026.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Satheesan and the Ministers-designate over a one-hour ceremony that commenced around 10.15 a.m.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had scripted a landslide victory over the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front in the April 9 Assembly elections by claiming 102 of the 140 seats in the State Assembly.
Mr. Satheesan, 61, who was Opposition Leader during 2021-2026, was the first to be sworn in. Mr. Arlekar read out the oath of office which Mr. Satheesan repeated after him. The procedure was repeated with the oath of secrecy. Mr. Satheesan then signed the oaths in the books kept on the table.
The Hinduja Group has retained its position at the top of the UK’s wealth rankings for the fifth consecutive year, with brothers Sanjay Hinduja and Dheeraj Hinduja leading the family empire after the death of patriarch Gopichand Hinduja last year.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on Friday announced a new retirement income scheme and drawdown options under the National Pension System (NPS), aimed at giving subscribers greater flexibility in managing their pension savings after retirement.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event at Sasan Gir, Gujarat. The programme was organised as part of the series of Pre-Summit Species Events under the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026.
Shri Yadav said the ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event highlighted the global conservation status of lions and India’s initiatives towards species conservation. He stated that the event aimed to showcase India’s successful lion conservation model, promote international cooperation among lion range countries, deliberate on emerging challenges such as habitat pressures,
climate change and human-wildlife interactions, and strengthen knowledge exchange and capacity building.
The dignitaries also launched a ‘Lion Conservation Brochure’ during the event.
Besides this, detailed presentations and educational films on conservation efforts being taken for Big Cats were shown to the gathering that included students from various educational institutions of the region.
The International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed annually in May 16.
The theme “Living Together in Peace: Building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation” feels especially timely in 2026.
In 1997, the General-Assembly proclaimed - by its resolution 52/15 — the year 2000 as the "International Year for a Culture of Peace". In 1998, it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World."
Celebrated every year on 17 May, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) highlights the growing role of digital technologies in our lives and commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies.
The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
