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Veteran Diplomat Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Before this appointment, he was serving as India’s Ambassador to Qatar and had previously held several important diplomatic positions, including Consul General of India in Dubai and Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs. With nearly three decades of diplomatic experience and deep expertise in Gulf affairs, Vipul is expected to play a significant role in strengthening India’s relations with Saudi Arabia in areas such as energy, trade, investment, defence cooperation, and regional security.

Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was appointed as the Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat on May 22, 2026, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur, where he led the police force during a challenging period marked by ethnic unrest. As Secretary (Security), he becomes the administrative head of the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is responsible for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and eligible family members. He succeeded Parag Jain, who had been holding additional charge of the position.

Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education following the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on July 23, 2026. A 1994-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, he succeeded Vineet Joshi, who was transferred to the Department of Panchayati Raj. Previously serving as Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Gangwar brings extensive administrative experience. He holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering, an M.Tech from IIT Delhi, and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Rajasthan, making him well-equipped to lead higher education policy reforms.

Axis Bank partnered with fintech company Scapia to launch a co-branded travel credit card on September 4, 2026. The card is designed for travel-focused consumers and is available on both Mastercard and RuPay networks. It offers rewards of up to 10% on eligible everyday spending and up to 20% in Scapia Coins on travel bookings through the Scapia app. Other benefits include zero forex markup, Smart Forex technology, premium airport lounge access, and dining and retail privileges. The partnership represents Scapia’s third banking collaboration and expands its travel-focused financial services offering.

KreditBee achieved unicorn status in April 2026 after raising $280 million in a pre-IPO funding round, reaching a valuation of $1.5 billion. The company has shown strong financial performance, reporting ₹2,700 crore in revenue and ₹473 crore in net profit for FY25. Its Assets Under Management (AUM) grew significantly to ₹15,000 crore in FY26. The funding will support expansion in secured and MSME lending segments. Additionally, the company is preparing for an IPO, including merging its tech and NBFC entities, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey.

INS Sunayna is a Saryu-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy that arrived at Male as part of its operational deployment under the SAGAR initiative. Commissioned in October 2013 and built by Goa Shipyard Limited, the vessel plays a vital role in maritime security and surveillance. Its deployment reflects India’s commitment to regional cooperation, particularly under the Neighbourhood First policy and MAHASAGAR vision, aimed at ensuring security and growth across the Indian Ocean region through collaborative maritime efforts.

The 52nd All India Sainik Schools Principals’ Conference was inaugurated at Kazhakoottam in Kerala by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth on May 07, 2026. The conference brought together delegates from 33 Sainik Schools and principals of 79 New Sainik Schools through video conferencing. The event included activities such as a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial and exhibitions on educational technology at the Gyan Mela. Several awards for academic excellence and contributions to defence academy admissions were presented during the conference, highlighting the role of Sainik Schools in preparing students for leadership and military careers.

Statistics Day is observed every year on June 29 to honour the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, who is regarded as the father of modern statistics in India. The Government of India instituted this observance in 2007 to promote awareness about the importance of statistics, encourage evidence-based policymaking, inspire students and researchers to pursue careers in statistics and data science, and recognise the contribution of official statistics to governance and national development. The celebration is coordinated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the National Statistical Office (NSO).

India and Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30th June 2026 to strengthen cooperation in water resources management and sustainable development during the Saudi Water Week held in Jeddah. The agreement focuses on sharing best practices in water resource planning, enhancing technical cooperation, building institutional capacity, and improving sustainable water management and irrigation systems. The MoU was signed by India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley. The partnership reflects the growing strategic relationship between the two countries in addressing water security and sustainable resource management.

Kalpakkam is the location of India’s first indigenously developed 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), which recently attained criticality. Developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI), the reactor marks a major milestone in India’s nuclear power programme. It represents the second stage of the three-stage nuclear strategy, aimed at utilising plutonium and eventually thorium for sustainable energy production. The reactor is designed to produce more fuel than it consumes and includes advanced safety features, showcasing India’s progress in nuclear technology and self-reliance.

New Delhi is the venue for the 4th Indo-German Environmental Forum, scheduled for September 1, 2026. The forum aims to strengthen cooperation between India and Germany on climate and environmental policy. It is co-chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and German Minister Carsten Schneider and is organised under the theme “Together For More Resilience.” Key areas of discussion include low-carbon industries, biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency, circular economy models, sustainable finance, green skills, and investment mobilisation. The event is jointly organised by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Germany’s BMUKN.

Bharat Buildcon 2026 was inaugurated at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar. Organised under the theme “One Nation, One Expo,” the four-day exhibition served as a major platform for showcasing innovations and advancements in the construction sector. The event witnessed participation from more than 90 countries and over 100 Indian cities, attracting over 25,000 visitors on its opening day. With exhibits spanning 24 industry segments such as cement, steel, ceramics, and electrical products, the expo highlighted infrastructure development, international trade opportunities, and the role of Free Trade Agreements in promoting economic growth.

The statue of Lt Gen Sagat Singh Rathore, a distinguished war hero, was unveiled in the district of Churu, Rajasthan, during the ‘Shaurya Ke Saath Sankalp Divas’ programme. The event was led by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and aimed to honour the contributions of the military leader. In addition to unveiling the statue, the state government also renamed the local stadium in his honour. This initiative reflects the government’s efforts to recognise the sacrifices and achievements of armed forces personnel while promoting patriotism and awareness among citizens.

India delivered an outstanding performance at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 held in New Delhi, finishing at the top of the medal tally with a record 208 medals. This impressive haul included 75 gold, 69 silver, and 64 bronze medals across various track and field events. The competition saw participation from athletes of multiple countries, but India’s dominance was evident through several podium sweeps and remarkable individual performances. The achievement reflects the country’s growing strength in para-athletics and the success of its efforts to support and develop athletes with disabilities at an international level.

Mitchell Starc became the leading wicket-taker in ICC World Test Championship history after reaching 234 wickets. The Australian left-arm fast bowler surpassed teammates Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who had 228 wickets each. Starc achieved the milestone during the second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, where he produced a remarkable 10-wicket match haul. His performance also took his overall Test wicket tally to 445, allowing him to surpass South African great Dale Steyn and enter the top 10 wicket-takers in Test cricket history.

Karnataka became the first Indian state to adopt a globally recognised Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) based excise duty structure on May 11, 2026. The reform marked a major shift in liquor taxation by allowing producers to independently fix prices based on alcohol content and market conditions instead of government-controlled pricing. The policy also streamlined Indian Made Liquor categories into eight distinct slabs through amendments to the Karnataka Excise Rules, 1968. Introduced following commitments in the 2026–27 state budget, the initiative aims to provide consumers with more competitive pricing while maintaining parity with neighboring states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Kerala.

The Shenzhou-23 mission represents a major milestone in human spaceflight as it marks the first attempt to keep astronauts in orbit for a full year, extending beyond the usual six-month rotation period. Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu province using a Long March 2-F rocket, the mission includes three crew members and focuses on studying the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body. It also aligns with China’s broader space goals, including lunar exploration ambitions by 2030, advancement of the Tiangong Space Station program, and strengthening capabilities for future deep-space missions and international collaboration.

OpenAI introduced its AI coding assistant, Codex, into the ChatGPT mobile application for both iOS and Android platforms in May 2026. This integration enables developers to remotely manage coding tasks using smartphones, including reviewing outputs, approving commands, switching AI models, and monitoring real-time updates such as screenshots, terminal outputs, and test results. The system securely keeps files and credentials on the connected host machine while offering seamless synchronisation. OpenAI also expanded support with remote SSH connectivity and enterprise-level features like programmatic access tokens and HIPAA-compliant local support for healthcare-related workspaces.

NASA, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), successfully tested a 120-kilowatt lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster on May 08, 2026. The advanced propulsion technology uses ionized lithium plasma accelerated through magnetic fields to produce electromagnetic thrust. The system operates using Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP), where a compact nuclear reactor powers the thrusters instead of solar energy. This innovation is significant for future deep-space exploration and crewed Mars missions, which may require power outputs between 2 and 4 megawatts. The successful test represents a major milestone in high-power space propulsion technology for long-duration interplanetary travel.

AIIMS Delhi has pioneered a modified surgical technique to treat severe spinal deformities, marking a significant advancement in medical science. Developed by a specialist team, this method improves upon the traditional posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) procedure by preserving spinal stability during surgery. The innovation is particularly beneficial for high-risk patients experiencing extreme deformities, breathing issues, and chronic pain. By enhancing surgical safety and reducing neurological complications, the technique has improved patient outcomes and mobility. This breakthrough has also received international recognition, highlighting India’s growing contribution to advanced medical research and surgical innovation.