08th May 2026

1. NCRB’s Crime in India 2024: Crime Rate Declined by 6%; Delhi Recorded Highest Cognisable Offences
2. MIF Signs Agreements with IITs and IMU to Promote Atmanirbhar Bharat
3. MBDA, IAF sign pact to set up MICA missile MRO facility in India
4. DRDO Inaugurates CBRN Field Training and Demonstration Centre In Delhi to Strengthen Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
5. JGU Becomes India’s 1st IoE to Receive Data Science Council of America Accreditation
6. FICCI Nominates Priyanka Mittal as Co-Chair of Saudi-India Business Council
7. KMBL gets RBI nod to buy 9.99% each in AU SFB, Federal Bank
8. DRDO, IAF successfully conduct maiden flight-trial of indigenous TARA glide weapon
9. Pixxel Secures USA’s NRO Contract for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Development
10. Former India Midfielder Mohan Singh Passed Away
11. IITM Pune Establishes India’s First Urban Testbed and Aerosol Observatory in Chennai, TN
12. India & Japan Sign Agreements in Quantum Technology and Health Research
13. Cape Breton University Signs 3 MoUs with Indian Universities
14. India’s First Green Methanol Plant to Convert Invasive Weed into Marine Fuel
15. S&P Global lowers India’s GDP forecast to 6.6% for FY27
16. Skyroot Aerospace Becomes India’s 1st Space-tech Unicorn, Raises USD 60 million
17. IIT Madras Launches First Centre in USA to Boost Deep-Tech Startups
18. CNN Founder Robert Edward Turner III Passed Away
19. African World Heritage Day 2026 – May 5
20. World Asthma Day 2026 – May 5
21. International No Diet Day 2026 – May 6
22. Border Roads Organisation Raising Day 2026 – May 7
23. World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 – May 8
24. World Thalassaemia Day 2026 – May 8
25. Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War 2026 – 8-9 May
26. National Technology Day – May 11
27. World Ovarian Cancer Day 2026: Theme, History, Importance and Key Facts

National News

Maritime India Foundation Establishes Maritime Innovation Hubs

• What: The Maritime India Foundation formalised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with three premier institutes to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIHs) under the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative of the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and Indian Maritime University, Chennai (IMU Chennai) signed the agreements.
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) will sign the MoU for the fourth hub subsequently.
  • The Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative has entered the execution phase, under which MIHs will mentor 36 startups working on 40 innovation projects to solve critical challenges in the Indian maritime sector.
  • The Maritime India Foundation provides a platform for the sector to share real-world operational challenges with startups.
  • S. Viswanathan, Managing Director of Maritime India Foundation, presided over the signing ceremony at the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) premises.

JGU Becomes First Indian Institution Accredited by DASCA

• What: O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Institution of Eminence in India to receive accreditation from the Data Science Council of America (DASCA) for its artificial intelligence and data science programmes.
• Tell me more:
  • This accreditation remains valid through 2031 and covers both physical and online courses. Seven of JGU’s flagship AI and Data Science programs have been aligned with DASCA standards under the WDSAI framework.
  • DASCA is a globally recognized standards body that establishes industry-aligned benchmarks for educational programmes in data science and analytics.
  • The accreditation was awarded under the World Data Science & AI Initiative (WDSAI), which supports universities in adopting internationally benchmarked standards.
  • WDSAI helps universities align their curriculum with internationally accepted industry standards and provides access to certification pathways.
  • The university still creates and runs its own curriculum, but WDSAI guides and benchmarks it to ensure it matches global expectations and industry needs.

India Builds First Green Methanol Plant Using Invasive Weed

• What: The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla is establishing the first green methanol production plant of India by using the invasive weed “Prosopis juliflora” as feedstock to fuel ocean-going ships.
• Tell me more:
  • The Mexican-origin shrub Prosopis juliflora has threatened biodiversity and crowded out native grasses over thousands of kilometres in Kutch’s Banni grasslands.
  • The British introduced the plant in the 1920s to green Delhi, and the Gujarat forest department used it in 1961 to halt the encroaching salt desert.
  • The new facility will produce five tonnes of green methanol a day at the port.
  • Pune-based Thermax Energy is building the plant, and Vadodara’s Ankur Scientific is providing the specialized gasification technology.
  • The port authority will own the facility to support the national policy of converting ports along the western coast into green ports.
  • The shipping industry requires alternative fuels to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2023 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy for net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • About Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP):
    • Government of India approved the Financial Assistance Policy for Indian Shipyards on 9th December 2015 for grant of financial assistance to Indian Shipyards for shipbuilding contracts signed between April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2026.
    • The online portal “Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Management System” has been set up by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and waterways for this scheme.
    • India amended its shipbuilding financial assistance policy in August 2023 to provide 30% subsidy for vessels using green fuel-based propulsion such as methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen fuel cells, and 20% assistance for fully electric or hybrid propulsion vessels.
    • In 2025-26 Union Budget, the govt introduced SBFAP 2.0 with a massive budget allocation increase to ₹18,090 crore.
    • Under this scheme, the green methanol plant is being set up at the Kandla port.

IIT Madras Establishes First United States Research Center

• What: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Global Research Foundation announced the establishment of its first United States center in Menlo Park, California, to take Indian deep-tech research and startups directly to global innovation hubs.
• Tell me more:
  • The official announcement was made at the SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 06, 2026, organised under SelectUSA, the federal program that promotes and facilitates business investment into the United States.
  • The initiative involves a planned investment of US$ 7.5 million, including a US$ 4.5 million greenfield investment from IIT-Madras.
  • The center was launched, in partnership with, CA Startups.
  • IITM Global also announced plans for a second center on the United States East Coast.

Banking and Economy

Kotak Mahindra Bank to Acquire Stake in Two Banks

• What: The RBI granted approval to Kotak Mahindra Bank to acquire up to 9.99% each in the paid-up share capital or voting rights of AU Small Finance Bank and Federal Bank.
• Tell me more:
  • Banking Regulation Act, 1949
    • Section 12B: This specific section mandates that any person or group intending to acquire a “major shareholding” (defined as 5% or more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights) in a banking company must seek prior approval from the RBI.
    • Nature of Approval: The RBI evaluates the “fit and proper” status of the acquirer before granting such permission.
  • Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions, 2023 also governs the terms of acquisition of shares in banks.

Skyroot Aerospace Becomes First Private Space Unicorn

• What: Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace raised nearly $60 million (approximately ₹570 crore) in a fresh funding round at a pre-money valuation of $1.1 billion, becoming the first unicorn of India in the private space-tech sector.
• Tell me more:
  • GIC and Sherpalo Ventures co-led the funding round.
    • Tech investor Ram Shriram founded Sherpalo Ventures and will join the board of the company following the investment.
  • The total funding of Skyroot has crossed $160 million (around ₹1,500 crore) with this round.
  • The funds will help scale manufacturing capabilities and develop the next-generation Vikram-2 launch vehicle powered by an advanced cryogenic stage.
  • Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket, in 2022, while Vikram-1 is India’s first privately developed orbital rocket offering dedicated and customisable launch services to global satellite operators.
  • Skyroot also conducted an orbital launch in 2023.

Reports and Indices

NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 Report

• What: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the Crime in India 2024 report on May 6, 2026, revealing that the country recorded 58.85 lakh cognisable crimes in 2024, marking a six percent decline from 2023.
• Tell me more:
  • The crime rate per lakh population dropped from 448.3 in 2023 to 418.9 in 2024.
  • Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of crimes against women followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal.
  • Nagaland, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh reported the lowest incidences of crime against women among the states.
  • Crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) decreased by 3.6 percent while crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) fell by 23.1 percent.
  • Deaths due to drug overdose saw a 50 percent increase in 2024 compared with the previous year.

Defence News

Indian Air Force and MBDA Partner for Missile Overhaul

• What: European defence major MBDA signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop a local facility for the maintenance, repair, and mid-life overhaul (MRO) of MICA missiles in India to enhance strategic autonomy.
• Tell me more:
  • The IAF uses MICA missiles on Rafale and upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter jets for beyond-visual-range (BVR) and short-range combat.
  • MICA missiles first entered service with the IAF in 2016 following the Mirage 2000 fleet upgrade.
  • Paris-headquartered MBDA will supply industrial machinery, tools, and data packages, along with training and technical support to Indian Air Force personnel.

DRDO Opens CBRN Field Training Centre in Delhi

• What: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) opened a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) field training and demonstration centre at Burari plains in Delhi to enhance preparedness for radiological and nuclear exigencies.
• Why: The centre aims to strengthen India’s preparedness against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats by providing practical training, testing radiation detection technologies, supporting R&D, and improving emergency and crisis response capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • The Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) manages this upcoming centre of excellence.
  • Responders from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, and other agencies will use the centre for effective training an crisis response preparedness.
  • DRDO Chairman: Samir V Kamat

Science and Technology

Pixxel Secures Space Contract from United States Agency

• What: Bengaluru space startup Pixxel has been awarded a contract by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) of the United States to provide advanced satellite imaging services using its Firefly hyperspectral satellites.
• Tell me more:
  • The contract will help governments use hyperspectral satellite imagery for defence, disaster management, agriculture, environmental monitoring and identify objects that normal satellite images cannot detect.
  • A hyperspectral satellite collects Earth data across hundreds of continuous, narrow light bands. These satellites can capture detailed data beyond normal photos in ultra-fine details.
  • The Firefly constellation, owned and operated by Pixxel, provides data at the speed and precision demanded by intelligence and national security communities.
  • An India-led consortium by PixxelSpace will also establish the first commercial earth observation satellite constellation of India.

SRMIST Launches Mission Mausam Urban Testbed Facility

• What: The SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Ramapuram, Chennai launched the Mission Mausam Urban Testbed and observational facilities developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) to improve city weather prediction.
• Tell me more:
  • The center monitors aerosols, clouds, precipitation, atmospheric dynamics, and thermodynamic parameters across the city.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) oversees the newly developed atmospheric testing facility.
  • SRMIST also inaugurated its Centre for Atmospheric Sciences Research and Innovation during the event.
  • SRMIST and IITM signed an MoU to formalize joint collaboration in climate science research and academic activities.

Important Days

African World Heritage Day 2026 – May 5

• Theme: Celebrating Africa’s Heritage, Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow
• Celebrated every year on 5 May, African World Heritage Day was proclaimed in 2015 by the UNESCO General Conference.

International No Diet Day 2026 – May 6

67th Border Roads Organisation Raising Day 2026 – May 7

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was established on May 7, 1960.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 – May 8

• Theme of 2026: United in Humanity
• 8 May was chosen because it is the anniversary of the birth of the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant.
• The first International Red Cross Day was observed on May 8, 1948, and the event was officially renamed World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984.

World Thalassaemia Day 2026 – May 8

• Theme: “Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen.”
• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder where the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War 2026 – May 8-9

National Technology Day – May 11

• 2026 theme: “Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth”
• The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), Navi Mumbai, organised the commemorative national event.
• National Technology Day occurs annually to commemorate major scientific achievements of India like the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests and the Hansa-3 aircraft flight.

World Ovarian Cancer Day – May 8

• 2026 Campaign of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is “No Woman Left Behind”.

Memorandum of Understanding

India and Japan Sign Strategic Science Agreements

• What: Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Japanese Minister Kimi Onoda met in New Delhi to exchange key agreements in healthcare innovation and emerging technologies, strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Japan in science and technology.
• Tell me more:
  • The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Department of Science and Technology (DST) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).
  • This MoC focuses on cooperation in the field of health and medical devices between the two nations.
  • The Cabinet Office of Japan and the DST signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for cooperation in Quantum Science and Technology. Both sides discussed strengthening cooperation under the National Quantum Mission of India.

Cape Breton University Signs Three Indian Academic MoUs

• What: A delegation from Cape Breton University (CBU) signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Indian academic institutions during a multi-city outreach to strengthen higher education partnerships and future-focused collaborations.
• Tell me more:
  • CBU (a public university in Sydney, Canada) signed a five-year agreement with BML Munjal University’s School of Engineering and Technology in Delhi.
  • A second agreement with the National Education Forum (NEF) establishes the forum as the official convening partner of the university in India.
  • The team held additional discussions with Parul University and Navrachana University to build a regional academic network.
  • These hybrid models allow Indian students to complete coursework in India before moving to the campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Appointments

Priyanka Mittal Appointed Co-Chair of Saudi-India Business Council

• What: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) appointed Priyanka Mittal, Director of KRBL Limited, as Co-Chair of the Indian side of the Saudi-India Business Council (SIBC) to strengthen economic cooperation and trade.
• Tell me more:
  • Ms. Mittal will work alongside Dr. Siddeek Ahmed who has been nominated as Chair of the Indian side of the Council.
  • FICCI and the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) jointly established the SIBC as a premier bilateral platform to enhance trade and investment relations between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • KRBL Limited, the parent company of India Gate, is recognized as the world’s number one basmati rice brand and operates as the world’s largest rice miller with a 135-year legacy in the food industry.

Miscellaneous

Former Indian Midfielder Mohan Singh Passes Away

• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) condoled the death of former India midfielder Mohan Singh, who passed away.
• AIFF President – Shri Kalyan Chaubey

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