West Bengal's new BJP government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has launched the «Annapurna Bhandaar» scheme. Eligible women will receive ₹3,000 monthly, replacing the previous «Lakshmir Bhandar.» The cabinet also approved integrating the state with central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and addressing illegal immigration.

Forty-eight hours after he was relieved by the election commission as the special observer on May 7, Gupta was already appointed adviser to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday. The appointment order came within hours after Adhikari took oath as CM at a ceremony at Brigade Parade Grounds. Gupta, a PhD from IIT-Kharagpur, served as DM of Jalpaiguri and Burdwan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged collective national efforts to reduce import dependence and strengthen India's global supply chain position. Amidst global uncertainty and Middle East conflict concerns, he appealed to citizens to minimize foreign currency spending and support domestic manufacturing. Modi drew parallels to past national crises, emphasizing historical citizen unity in response to government appeals.

The SIR of electoral rolls became one of the most fiercely debated issues in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with the exercise significantly reshaping the state’s voter base before polling. Nearly 91 lakh names, around 12 per cent of the electorate, were removed during the revision process. Of these, more than 60 lakh voters were marked as deceased, while nearly 27 lakh cases remained pending or under scrutiny.

West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chaired his first cabinet meeting, approving six key decisions to end state-Centre deadlock. These include facilitating land for BSF border fencing, rolling out central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, and aligning IAS/IPS officers with central training.

AIADMK faces internal turmoil following a significant electoral defeat in Tamil Nadu, with divisions surfacing over leadership and potential support for the new TVK government. MLAs arrived in separate groups for the assembly, highlighting a visible rift and raising questions about the party's future cohesion and relevance.

Tamil Nadu's chief minister's swearing-in ceremony sparked controversy as the state song 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu' was placed third, after the national song and anthem. This deviation from tradition, where the state song usually begins government events, drew strong objections from CPI and the ruling TVK party, which vowed to revert to the established practice.

Daily wage earners constituted 31% of all suicide deaths in 2024, the highest in a decade, with 52,910 such fatalities. This marks a significant increase from previous years, as the total number of suicides nationwide rose to 1.7 lakh. Family problems and illness remain the primary reported causes for these tragic deaths.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has denied blocking Rahul Gandhi's social media posts featuring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. Sources stated that Instagram's internal system mistakenly flagged the content, which has since been restored. This clarification comes after Congress alleged the ministry was suppressing opposition voices.

Two Indian crew members aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are healthy and asymptomatic following a hantavirus scare. The vessel anchored off Spain's Canary Islands, and the two Indians have since been evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine and health monitoring.

'Govt change sans violence best proof'

India and UAE are finalizing an agreement to facilitate the evacuation of Indian workers via Fujairah port, a move likely to be signed during PM Modi's upcoming stopover. This pact addresses potential disruptions from the West Asia conflict, offering a crucial maritime route for over 4 million Indian workers in the UAE.

Amid global energy disruptions, PM Modi urged Indians to conserve foreign exchange by reducing reliance on imported fuel. He advocated for public transport, work-from-home, avoiding overseas trips and non-essential gold purchases for a year. The Prime Minister also encouraged farmers to halve chemical fertilizer use and shift towards natural farming.

Two Indian crew members aboard the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius have been evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine, confirmed healthy and asymptomatic by the Indian Embassy in Spain. The Dutch-flagged vessel experienced an outbreak after anchoring off the Canary Islands. The WHO advised a risk-based approach for managing contacts, noting limited human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus.

Bhuri Tori, a forgotten scientific outpost near Sironj, once served as the geodetic heart of undivided India. British surveyors used this ridge for the Great Trigonometrical Survey, fixing coordinates and calculating distances that helped measure Mount Everest. Today, this historically significant site lies neglected, with its structures vandalized and stones stolen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to adopt lifestyle changes to conserve foreign exchange and mitigate the economic impact of global energy crises. Key suggestions include reducing fuel consumption by using public transport, carpooling, and opting for electric vehicles, alongside reviving work-from-home policies and limiting discretionary spending on gold and foreign travel.

Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which anchored off Spain due to a hantavirus scare, are confirmed healthy and asymptomatic. Evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine, their well-being is being closely monitored by Indian authorities in coordination with Spanish officials. This incident highlights global health vigilance.

A mutual fund distributor, a long-time BJP supporter, shared how Rahul Gandhi maintained a professional relationship despite political differences. Gandhi humorously responded, urging faster investment returns. This light-hearted exchange garnered significant attention online, with many praising the civility and humor, while some questioned the professional ethics of revealing the client relationship.

Government has opened highway project bids to venture capital, private equity, infrastructure, and pension funds, a significant policy change. This move aims to attract substantial private investment by allowing these financially robust entities to partner with experienced construction firms.

Indian Railways faces increased electricity costs following a Supreme Court ruling. The court declared the national transporter a «consumer» under the Electricity Act, making it liable for cross-subsidy and additional surcharges on open access power. This decision impacts the railways' operating ratio and power procurement expenses, overturning previous exemptions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for careful use of petrol, diesel, and gas. He stated that reducing reliance on imported fuel will help India manage the ongoing war's effects. The Prime Minister also highlighted India's focus on energy security and investments in solar power. Several infrastructure projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore were inaugurated in Telangana.

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay convened his inaugural Secretariat meeting, focusing on law and order ahead of the Assembly session. Bengaluru experienced a security scare with gelatine sticks found near PM Modi's event venue. Iran responded to a US proposal via Pakistan amidst Strait of Hormuz tensions. Vijay's swearing-in, beginning with Vande Mataram, sparked political debate.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala criticized Prime Minister Modi for his remarks on the Kerala CM selection delay, pointing out the BJP's own 50-day wait in Delhi. He emphasized the Congress's democratic process versus the BJP's 'authoritarian' approach. Consultations are ongoing, with a decision expected soon after discussions with leaders and MLAs.