NATIONAL NEWS

Delhi Government Approves Cloud Seeding To Reduce Air Pollution In The City

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi’s Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct experimental cloud seeding to address the city's persistent air pollution.

The proposal, titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi-NCR,” was approved on 7 May 2025 in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The Project will be implemented in the city after obtaining the regulatory approval from 13 central government agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Airports Authority of India.

The Delhi government will conduct five cloud seeding trials during the summer season after necessary clearance.

The first trial is scheduled for late May/June 2025. It will cover around 100 square kilometer areas mainly in the outskirts of Delhi.

The total project cost will be Rs 3.21 crore. Each trial will cost Rs 55 lakhs, and the one-time set-up cost will be Rs 66 lakhs.

The Cloud seeding project will be handled by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi.

The Delhi government will provide the funds to IIT-Delhi for this project.

IIT Delhi will be responsible for the scientific modelling, chemical dispersal through aircraft, and project monitoring.

It will also collect scientific data and perform an analysis.                                          

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Maldives Announces $8.8 Billion Financial Free Zone in Malé

Maldives has announced plans to build an $8.8 billion Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC) in Malé, in collaboration with Qatari-owned MBS Global Investments.

The MIFC is set to be completed by 2030 and will be a sustainable Financial Freezone.

The Centre aims to attract global financial institutions, fintech firms, and digital nomads.

The Centre will support multi-currency banking and offshore private banking.

The MIFC will offer future-ready regulations for digital assets and green finance, aiming to make Malé a leading financial and business hub in the Indian Ocean.

The development will include residential and office towers, luxury hotels, an international school, and a convention centre.

It is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue by its fifth year and significantly contribute to the national GDP.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Airtel Africa Collaborates with Starlink

Airtel Africa has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to provide Starlink’s high-speed internet services to Airtel customers across Africa.

The collaboration aims to expand satellite communication (satcom) and improve connectivity in underserved and rural regions of Africa.

SpaceX has acquired operating licenses in nine out of 14 countries within Airtel Africa's service footprint.

Operating licenses for the remaining five countries are still in process.

The partnership aims to expand rural coverage through cellular backhauling.

The collaboration focuses on improving connectivity for businesses, schools, and health centers, particularly in rural and remote regions.

The partnership will offer reliable and affordable voice and data connectivity in areas that are currently underserved.

 

BANKING

Sa-Dhan and Bank of India Inked Memorandum of Understanding

Sa-Dhan, a self-regulatory organization for microfinance institutions (MFIs), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of India (BoI) to expand financial access for small, micro, and women-led enterprises.

The collaboration aims to achieve National Financial Inclusion goals and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas such as poverty alleviation, gender equality, and economic empowerment.

Sa-Dhan will play a crucial role in identifying SHG and non-SHG individual entrepreneurs who require enterprise financing.

The MoU is a non-commercial arrangement, meaning that the collaboration focuses on social impact and development goals, rather than direct financial gain.

The collaboration is designed to improve financial access for small businesses, microenterprises, and women entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and empowerment in underserved communities.

 

ECONOMY

Moody's Lowers India's 2025 GDP Growth Projection to 6.3%

Moody's has revised India's 2025 GDP growth forecast down to 6.3% from 6.6%.

The downward revision is attributed to policy shifts and trade uncertainties, particularly tensions between major economies like the US and China.

Geopolitical risks, especially tensions with Pakistan, pose additional downside risks to India's economic outlook.

The IMF has revised India's growth forecast for FY26 down to 6.2% from 6.5%.

The World Bank has also lowered India's growth estimate to 6.3% from 6.7%.

Moody's expects India’s economy to grow at 6.5% in 2026.

 

DEFENCE

First Arnala-Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship Delivered To The Navy

The first ‘Arnala’ class Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) was officially handed over to the Indian Navy in a ceremony held at the L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu, on 8 May 2025.

The Arnala class ASW SWC was built by the Kolkata-based defence shipyard, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), on a public-private partnership, with an indigenous content of 80 per cent.

To strengthen the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capability, the government of India launched a project to manufacture 16 ASW-SWC within India under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

Under the project, 8 vessels were to be built by Cochin Shipyards Limited, and similarly, 8 will be built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers.

The ships being built by the Cochin Shipyards are called Mahe Class ASW SWC.

Arnala is a fort off the coast of Maharashtra.

Five ‘Mahe’ Class ASW SWC- Mahe, Malvan, Mangrol, Malpe and Mulki have already been delivered to the Indian Navy.

The first Arnala class ASW SWC was delivered to the Navy on 8th May 2025.

Under the Arnala class ASW SWC, Androth, Anjadip, Amini, Agary, and Akshay are under various construction phases.

Paras Defence Collaborates With Israel’s Heven Drones

Paras Defence and Heven Drones signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 6, 2025, to establish a joint venture for manufacturing logistics and cargo drones in India.

The joint venture, named “Paras Heven Drones India”, will focus on logistics drones with payloads ranging from 10kg to 40kg.

The partnership follows a 51-49 ownership model, with Paras Defence holding the majority stake.

The joint venture is part of the Make-in-India initiative, aiming to manufacture advanced drone technologies locally while complying with national manufacturing policies.

It plans to import critical components from Israel to ensure the technology meets international standards.

The joint venture plans an initial investment of $1 million for infrastructure and test equipment in India.

Local manufacturing is expected to reduce production costs by at least 20% compared to manufacturing in Israel.

Heven Drones’ hydrogen-powered drones offer longer flight endurance compared to traditional battery-powered drones.

Their hydrogen drones can carry 5kg payloads for up to 2.5 hours, and larger models under development will carry 23kg payloads for 12 hours.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Government Extends CBI Director Praveen Sood's Tenure By One Year

The government of India has extended the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, Parveen Sood, by one year. Praveen Sood's present two-year tenure was to end on 25th May 2025.

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension of Praveen Sood's tenure in a meeting held on 7 May 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, which was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah.

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet took this decision after the appointment committee for the CBI Director failed to reach a consensus on the next CBI Director.

The appointment committee meeting for the CBI Director was held at the Prime Minister’s Office on 6th May 2025 in New Delhi.

The Appointment of the Director of the CBI is governed by the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946, as amended from time to time.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Red Cross And Red Crescent Day

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day are celebrated every year on May 8.

This initiative was studied by an International Commission established at the 14th International Conference on the Red Cross.

This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the uniqueness and unity of World Red Cross Day.

World Red Cross Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, who was born on May 8, 1828.

Henry Dunant was the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was first established in 1919 in Paris.

The whole body of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.

In 1984, this day was officially named "World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day".

World Thalassaemia Day

World Thalassaemia Day is celebrated every year on May 8.

This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the struggles of patients suffering from genetic disorders and raise awareness about Thalassaemia.

The World Thalassaemia Day 2025 theme is “Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients.”

In 1994, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) established May 8 as Thalassaemia Day.

Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is organising many useful activities to seek attraction of the public, and to improve the health of the public.

This day was observed in the memory of George Englezos who was the son of Thalassaemia International Federation's (TIF) president and founder.