Indian Railways has approved the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project (68 km) of Southern Railway at a cost of ₹993 crore, reinforcing its commitment towards safer, faster and more efficient rail transportation across the country. The section forms part of the important Chennai suburban circular rail network connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.
At present, the existing single line section is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, and traffic is expected to increase further in the coming years, necessitating additional infrastructure augmentation. The doubling work will help reduce detention time of trains, improve punctuality and increase the frequency of suburban services.
The route serves several major economic and industrial hubs including Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai, along with important automobile, cement and manufacturing industries. The proposed Parandur Airport project near Kancheepuram is also located close to the alignment, further increasing the strategic importance of the route.
India's first "Algae Tree," a revolutionary carbon-capturing technology designed to combat air pollution, has been installed in Bhopal's Swami Vivekananda Park. Inaugurated on May 1, 2026, by Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang, this innovative, solar-powered unit has garnered significant attention for its ability to tackle environmental challenges in urban spaces.
Developed by the Mushroom World Group after two years of research by a team of over 50 experts, the "Algae Tree" is not a traditional tree but a smart device that uses microalgae to purify the air.
PM2.5 and PM10 remain the main pollutants, often staying high due to traffic, construction, and seasonal dust.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted the Committee on Empowerment of Women. BJP MP from Lok Sabha, Dr Daggubati Purandeswari has been appointed Chairperson of the committee. The panel comprises 18 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha. Members from the Lower House include Hema Malini, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Iqra Choudhary.
From the Rajya Sabha, the committee includes Sudha Murty, PT Usha and Swati Maliwal among others.
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in partnership with the Vertis Foundation is empowering rural women through structured skill development for sustainable livelihood opportunities through Project Saksham. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said that the initiative aims to create pathways for long-term financial independence and social empowerment.
Project Saksham operates through a network of 12 training centres across the country, providing access to underserved communities to industry-relevant skills and pathways into the formal workforce. The initiative has trained over six thousand youth, with more than four thousand successfully placed across various sectors.
Over 80 percent of the beneficiaries are women, underscoring the program’s strong emphasis on gender-led empowerment. The Ministry said that Project Saksham is anchored in the belief that communities residing along the National Highways, in particular rural women, should directly benefit from the economic opportunities generated by infrastructure expansion.
Ishaan Khatter has been conferred with an honorary membership of the 45 Cavalry of the Indian Armoured Corps in recognition of his portrayal of a 45 Cavalry officer in Pippa and for the respect he showed towards the regiment’s values and legacy.
The 2023 film is a biographical war drama inspired by the life of Captain Balram Singh Mehta of India’s 45 Cavalry regiment, who fought alongside his siblings on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Named after the Soviet amphibious war tank PT-76, the film draws from real events surrounding the Battle of Garibpur in 1971.
Following the honour, Ishaan Khatter took to social media to express his gratitude, describing the recognition as “the honour of a lifetime.”
The plaque honoured the actor with the inscription: “45 Cavalry Proudly Confers Upon Mr Ishaan Khattar The Privilege of Honorary Membership of the Officers’ Mess in recognition of his authentic portrayal of a 45 Cavalry officer in Pippa and his abiding respect for the Regiment’s ethos. Once A Cavalier, Always A Cavalier. Veer Bhogya Vasundhara.”
Prudential plc announced to acquire a majority 75 per cent stake in Bharti Life Insurance for Rs 3,500 crore from Bharti Life Ventures Pvt Ltd and 360 ONE Asset Management.
Currently, Prudential is a partner with ICICI Bank with around 22 per cent stake in the life insurance venture.
With the announcement of a majority stake in Bharti Life Insurance, Prudential has to pare back its stake in the existing venture to comply with regulatory requirements.
Bharti Life’s strong local presence, combined with Prudential’s established insurance expertise, is expected to expand access to life and health protection solutions across the country, supported by the combined brand strength and operational capabilities of both organizations, the company said in a release.
India’s digital payments ecosystem is now overwhelmingly powered by tiny, everyday transactions, with UPI accounting for a massive 85.5% of all payment volumes in the second half of 2025, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest Payments System Report.
India finished the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar with 10 medals, including one silver and nine bronze, marking a big improvement from the previous edition in Jiangshan, where India had returned without a medal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Norway's highest civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
This is Prime Minister Modi's 32nd international honour.
The Grand Cross is the highest grade of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. It is awarded for exceptional service in advancing Norway's interests and international relations.
PM Modi arrived here earlier in the day on a two-day visit from Sweden.
This is Modi's maiden visit to Norway, and marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in 43 years
Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripted history by breaking the record of most sixes hit by an Indian batter during an IPL season. During the IPL 2026 encounter against Delhi Capitals, Sooryavanshi slammed 3 sixes and in the process, he went past Abhishek Sharma's tally of 42 sixes.
Sooryavanshi now has 43 sixes in 12 matches during IPL 2026 while Abhishek hammered 42 sixes in 16 matches during the 2024 season. Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer is in the third position with 39 sixes in 17 matches during the 2025 season.
Overall, the record belongs to legendary West Indies batter Chris Gayle who slammed a sensational 59 sixes in 15 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the 2012 season.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it has decided against activating the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB), saying prevailing conditions do not warrant the move at this stage.
Under the framework on CCyB laid out in the RBI (Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025, the buffer is to be activated when systemic risks arising from excess credit growth begin to build up. The central bank said such decisions would normally be pre-announced.
The RBI said the CCyB framework serves two broad objectives. First, it requires banks to build additional capital buffers during periods of economic expansion, which can later be drawn down to maintain the flow of credit during periods of stress.
Second, it seeks to curb indiscriminate lending during phases of excessive credit growth that could lead to the build-up of systemic risks in the banking sector.
The concept of countercyclical capital measures emerged in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, when the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, proposed the framework as part of broader post-crisis banking reforms.
19 May 2025 marks the inaugural World Fair Play Day, a celebration dedicated to promoting sports practiced in the spirit of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
Fair play fosters mutual respect among participants, teaching us to value and honor one another.
It promotes equality, bridges cultural divides, and empowers young people by showcasing how sports can drive social change and build stronger, more cohesive communities.
By embracing the principles of fair play—adherence to rules, respect for opponents, and the fight against violence and doping—everyone benefits.
