Congress MP Vivek Tankha has alerted the government to soaring airfares impacting Indian workers in the Gulf. He urged ministers to make travel affordable for the summer vacation period, citing that current fixed travel allowances are insufficient. Millions of families are now unable to reunite annually due to the doubled costs, creating a significant economic burden.

India successfully test-fired its short-range ballistic missile, Agni-1, from Chandipur, Odisha. The Strategic Forces Command oversaw the launch, which validated all operational and technical parameters. This successful test underscores the nation's robust defense capabilities, as Agni 1 to 4 missiles, with ranges up to 3,500 km, are already deployed.

Biennial elections for 26 Rajya Sabha seats will be held on June 18, with the BJP-led NDA expected to lose one seat. The Congress-led opposition could see its tally improve to five seats. The elections will cover 12 states, with bypolls also scheduled for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

In India's democracy, fractured election mandates often shift power to governors, who become arbiters of government formation. The recent Tamil Nadu election saw actor-turned-politician Vijay's party emerge as the single largest, but the governor's discretion in inviting him to form the government sparked debate over constitutional conventions and political arithmetic.

The Supreme Court has assured three academics that harsh remarks against them in a previous order will be deleted. These remarks stemmed from a Class 8 NCERT chapter on judicial corruption. The court clarified its concern was the chapter's content, not the individuals, emphasizing the need for balanced academic discussions on the judiciary while respecting constitutional frameworks.

Mount Everest, often a site of triumph, turned somber as two Indian climbers, Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are, tragically lost their lives while descending from its peak. Reports confirmed their deaths on Friday, with experts suggesting extreme fatigue was to blame.

A jhalmuri vendor from Jhargram, who served Prime Minister Modi, claims to be receiving threatening calls from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The vendor, Vikram Sao, has informed the police, who have provided security. Sao, the sole breadwinner, fears for his safety while cycling and has appealed to the PM for protection after his interaction went viral.

A parliamentary committee questioned the NTA chief regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, with the director stating the leak did not originate from their system. The committee also reviewed NTA reforms and discussed the impact of AI on education, alongside challenges faced by Aligarh Muslim University and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions.

The Competition Commission of India raised alarms about the practices of private super-specialty hospitals in the Delhi NCR region. It was highlighted that patients find themselves in a 'locked-in' predicament, where they're almost forced to rely on the hospitals' own pharmacies and diagnostic services.

In a strategic move, the US is pushing to wrap up a trade deal with India that seeks to expand market access and lower trade obstacles, aiming for a remarkable $500 billion in trade by 2030. This agreement is set to bolster supply chain resiliency and attract foreign investments.