07th May 2026

1. CCEA Approves Major Infrastructure, Railway & Judicial Expansion Proposals
2. DPIIT Sets 60-day FDI clearance for China-linked sectors, 40 sub-sectors
3. MoD Inks Rs.1,476 crore Deal with BEL For Mobile Electronic Systems
4. UIDAI and National Forensic Sciences University Sign 5-Year Pact on Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
5. NLC India Signs Nuclear Agreement with EDF France to Explore EPR and SMR Technologies
6. Skyroot Aerospace becomes unicorn after raising $60 million ahead of Vikram-1 launch
7. Overview of EAM S. Jaishankar’s First-Ever Bilateral Visit to Jamaica
8. Jio Payments Bank Partners with Ezeepay to Expand Banking Access
9. International Day of the Midwife 2026 – May 5
10. World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 – May 5
11. World Cartoonist Day 2026 – May 5
12. Nagaland Launches ‘100 Days Ayushman Student Coverage Mission’ to Expand Youth Health Coverage
13. Government names Vempati as new CBFC chief, succeeds Prasoon Joshi
14. World Athletics Day observed on May 7 with focus on youth fitness
15. Santa Marta Climate Conference, Background, Objectives, Role
16. Kumar Mangalam Birla appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Vodafone Idea Limited

National News

Cabinet Approves Three Major Railway Multi-Tracking Projects

• What: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three railway projects worth approximately Rs. 23,437 crore to enhance network capacity and mobility across six Indian states.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Railways will develop 3rd and 4th lines for the Nagda – Mathura, Guntakal – Wadi, and Burhwal – Sitapur sections.
  • The construction covers 19 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • The proposals follow the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PM-GSNMP) to improve multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency.

Government Fast Tracks Foreign Investment in Manufacturing Sectors

• What: The Government of India identified 40 sub-sectors for the expedited clearance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals within 60 days for countries sharing land borders with India, including China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
• Tell me more:
  • The 40 sub-sectors fall under six broad areas including capital goods, electronic components, polysilicon wafers, advanced battery components, rare earth magnets, and rare earth processing.
  • This means proposals will now be processed within 60 days, provided Indian citizens maintain majority control and strict reporting guidelines are followed via the Reserve Bank of India.

India and Jamaica Strengthen Bilateral Ties Through Agreements

• What: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) during his first bilateral visit to Jamaica to expand development assistance, disaster recovery support, and trade cooperation between the two nations.
• Tell me more:
  • India announced the supply of 30 dialysis units and 40 fishing boats to assist Jamaica’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa.
  • The assistance package includes 200 Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and 10 Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) emergency medical units.
  • India increased Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) defence training slots for Jamaica from 6 to 34 slots.
  • Jamaica expressed support for India’s United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat candidature for 2028–29.
  • India announced JMD 2 million support for India Arrival Day celebrations in Jamaica.
  • Both nations explored establishing an Artisan Empowerment Hub in Jamaica under the India–Caribbean Community (CARICOM) development partnership.
  • India completed and handed over the USD 1 million “Improving Rural Livelihoods” project in Kitson Town benefiting over 200 people under the India–UN Development Partnership Fund through UNOSSC.
    • Established in 2017, the $150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund under the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) to support demand-driven sustainable development projects in developing, least developed, and small island countries.
  • Both countries also discussed an Artisan Empowerment Hub for Jamaica under the India–CARICOM partnership.

State News

Nagaland Launches 100 Days Student Health Mission

• What: The Government of Nagaland launched the ‘100 Days Ayushman Student Coverage Mission’ to provide health insurance to students across the state through universal registration under national and state-level healthcare schemes.
• Tell me more:
  • The Nagaland Health Protection Society (NHPS), in collaboration with district administrations, is implementing the health mission from May to August.
  • Eligible students will be enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS).

International News

Colombia Hosts Historic First Global Fossil Fuel Transition Conference in Santa Marta

• What: Colombia and the Netherlands co-hosted the first-ever international conference on “transitioning away from fossil fuels” in Santa Marta, Colombia, bringing together nearly 60 nations to establish a new global framework for decarbonization and clean energy implementation.
• Tell me more:
  • The overarching theme was “Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels” (TAFF).
  • Slogan: Often referred to as a mission for a transition that is “Fast, Fair, and Financed.”
  • Successor: The theme will continue at the second conference in Tuvalu, which will co-chair with Ireland
  • The conference in Santa Marta, a major coal-exporting port, marks a shift from discussing emissions to directly addressing fossil fuel production.
  • Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s Environment Minister, chaired the talks and described the initiative as the beginning of a “new global climate democracy.”
  • Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated the current energy shock is larger than all previous crises combined.
  • Renewables generated 33.8% of global electricity last year, overtaking coal (33%) for the first time as the world’s leading power source.
  • Proposed funding solutions include windfall taxes on energy companies and redirecting the $1.5 trillion currently spent on global fossil fuel subsidies.

Banking and Economy

Skyroot Aerospace Becomes First Private Indian Spacetech Unicorn

• What: Spacetech startup Skyroot Aerospace achieved unicorn status after raising $60 million in fresh funding at a valuation of $1.1 billion to scale up manufacturing and launch operations for its orbital rockets.
• Tell me more:
  • Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace – Pawan Kumar Chandana
  • Sherpalo Ventures and GIC co-led Skyroot Aerospace’s funding round with participation from Greenko Group, Arkam Ventures, BlackRock, and Playbook Partners, while Ram Shriram of Alphabet Inc. joined the company’s Board.
  • Skyroot Aerospace is preparing the maiden flight of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, while also developing the cryogenic-powered Vikram-2 following the 2022 Vikram-S mission.

Ezeepay and Jio Payments Bank Partner for Banking

• What: Fintech platform Ezeepay announced a partnership with Jio Payments Bank to act as a Business Correspondent (BC) partner and expand last-mile banking services to underserved and semi-urban areas across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership aims to improve access to basic banking services through local merchant outlets.
  • Ezeepay’s BC merchants will facilitate cash withdrawals and deposits through the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS).
  • Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ezeepay – Shams Tabrej

Defence News

Ministry of Defence Procures Mobile Electronic Systems

• What: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad, to procure five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems for the Indian Army.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,476 crore contract under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category for systems with a minimum 72% indigenous content.
  • These systems detect and jam enemy communication and radar signals to support the Indian Army’s mobile electronic warfare operations.

Important Days

International Day of the Midwife 2026 – May 5

• The theme for International Day of the Midwife 2026 set by International Confederation of Midwives is “One Million More Midwives”.

World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 – May 5

• The 2026 WHO campaign – 18 years of SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands

World Cartoonist Day 2026 – May 5

World Athletics Day – May 7

Memorandum of Understanding

UIDAI and NFSU Partner for Digital Security

• What: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) signed a five-year agreement to collaborate on digital forensics, cybersecurity, and advanced technology research to protect India’s digital identity ecosystem.
• Tell me more:
  • These pillars include academic development, information security, and the creation of excellent forensic labs.
  • CEO of UIDAI – Vivek Chandra Verma
  • Vice-Chancellor of NFSU – Dr. J. M. Vyas

NLC India and EDF Partner for Nuclear Power

• What: NLC India Limited (NLC) signed a strategic agreement with the French energy company Électricité de France (EDF) to develop next-generation nuclear power projects and enhance clean, reliable energy production across the country.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative supports the larger national objective to increase nuclear power capacity to 100 Gigawatts (GW) by the year 2047.
  • In 2025, the government launched a Nuclear Mission targeting 100 GW nuclear energy by 2047, promoting private participation, Small Modular Reactors, indigenous development, and clean energy transition to support India’s growing power needs.

Appointments

Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed as CBFC Chairperson

• What: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appointed former Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for a three-year term.
• Tell me more:
  • Vempati succeeds Prasoon Joshi who has been elevated to the position of chairman of Prasar Bharati.
  • The new chairperson is an alumnus of the IIT-Bombay and co-founder of AI4India Org.
  • The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), headquartered in Mumbai, is a statutory body regulating public film exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and operates nine regional offices including in Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and New Delhi.

Kumar Mangalam Birla Appointed Chairman of Vodafone Idea

• Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) appointed Kumar Mangalam Birla as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors effective May 5, 2026, following the resignation of Ravinder Takkar from the leadership position.

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