________________________ *TODAYS TOP Current Affairs* --------------------------------------- 1. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Literary Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. 2. PM Modi held a grand roadshow in Patna after inaugurating the new terminal building of Jayaprakash Narayan International Patna Airport and laying the foundation stone for the second airport of Patna at Bihta. 3. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of city based gas distribution project at Alipurduar parade ground in the Alipurduars district of West Bengal. The 1017 crore rupee project will benefit the people of Alipurduar and Coochbehar districts of West Bengal. 4. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' from Sakhigopal in Puri district, Odisha. 5. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the *Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan* in Uttar Pradesh. In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from Guniyal village in Dehradun. This campaign resolves to make Indian agriculture the mainstay of Viksit Bharat: PM. India must not only fulfill its own needs but also emerge as a global food supplier: PM. Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will open new avenues of progress for farmers driving modernization in agriculture. 6. The Election Commission of India began the eighth batch of training for 373 grassroots election functionaries from four states in New Delhi. 7. In Ladakh, the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ (VKSA) Bus was flagged off at Kargil, marking the beginning of a two-week-long awareness campaign under the Pro-Kharif initiative. The campaign will run from May 29 to June 12, 2025, and is being organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra 1st (KVK1), Kargil. 8. COVID cases, the Public Health Department of Maharashtra confirmed 86 new cases of COVID on Wednesday, raising the total cases to 521 across the State from January. 9. The Government of India has approved the continuation of the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for the fiscal year 2025-26. This scheme aims to provide affordable short-term credit to farmers through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). 10. Punjab okays its first wildlife corridor in Rs 2,000-cr Zirakpur bypass plan. As part of the project, a 3-km elevated road will be built over a protected forest to preserve wildlife movement while constructing the Zirakpur bypass. 11. PM Modi slams TMC party over Murshidabad violence, teacher scam; describes Bengal govt the 'nirmam sarkar' (cruel government). Addressing a public rally in north Bengal's Alipurduar, PM Modi cited the recent incidents of communal violence in Murshidabad' 12. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over northeastern states, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Places over Andhra Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi are expected to witness thunderstorms. --------------------------------------- *LEGAL REPORT* --------------------------------------- 1. Three judges, including two high court chief justices, were appointed to the Supreme Court on Thursday. Once they take oath, the apex court will regain its full working strength of 34 judges, including the chief justice of India for a brief period. Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M Trivedi is set to superannuate on June 9, which means a fresh vacancy will arise in the top court. 2. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India implemented stricter regulations for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) seeking foreign funding. These changes particularly affect NGOs involved in publication activities. 3. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police has arrested arrested a Thane-based junior engineer on charges of spying, alleging that he provided sensitive defence information to a Pakistani intelligence operative who honey-trapped him online, The arrest, made on Thursday, followed a tip-off about the individual’s involvement in sharing sensitive information pertaining to a vital Indian installation with a Pakistani intelligence operative. Accused was working as a junior engineer with a defence technology firm and by virtue of his work, he had access to the highly-sensitive Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai, where he frequently worked on naval ships. ------- *MISHAPS*------------ In Jammu and Kashmir, three live mortar shells were discovered abandoned along a roadside in the Transport Nagar area of Narwal, on the outskirts of Jammu city. The shells were spotted by local police during a routine patrol. Upon the discovery, the area was cordoned off, and emergency protocols were activated. A specialised Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was immediately deployed to the scene. The team carefully secured the explosive devices and transported them to a nearby forested area, where they were successfully destroyed. --------------------------------------- *FINANCE* --------------------------------------- 1. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran has decided to step down as the Director and Chairman of Tata Chemicals. 2. Hitachi India has announced that N Venu will become the new Managing Director (MD) of the company starting from 2 June 2025. 3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is making strides towards internationalising the Indian Rupee. Recently, the RBI sought approval from the Government of India to allow domestic banks to lend rupees to overseas borrowers. This initiative aims to enhance the use of the rupee in international trade, particularly with neighbouring countries. 4. Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus will set up India’s first privately-led H125 helicopter assembly plant in Karnataka's Kolar district under the Make in India initiative. The facility will boost indigenous aerospace manufacturing and create a global export hub. --------------------------------------- *ENTERTAINMENT NEWS* --------------------------------------- 1. Vogue Eyewear has proudly chosen Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor as its brand ambassador. This is a special moment for the brand as Shahid joins Taapsee Pannu, who has been with Vogue Eyewear for a long time. Vogue Eyewear is a popular brand known for its trendy and stylish sunglasses and eyeglasses. 2. Eureka Forbes Ltd, a well-known name in India's health and hygiene sector, has chosen popular actress Shraddha Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its vacuum cleaner range. 3. Indian-American artist Raja Kumari wins her first American Music Award for the Arcane: League of Legends soundtrack. 4. Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) said on Thursday that it will not allow the release of actor Kamal Haasan's film Thug Life in Karnataka unless he issues a public apology by May 30 for his controversial remarks about the Kannada language. 5. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan (Actor & Politician) has taken a strong stand on what many cinema-goers have been complaining about for years—exorbitant prices of food and tickets in theatres. In a move that’s already creating a buzz in the Telugu film industry and among the public, he has ordered reforms to regulate ticket and refreshment pricing across the state. Pawan Kalyan raised concerns about overpriced popcorn, drinks, and bottled water sold at theatres. He directed government officials to monitor and maintain fair pricing and quality standards. --------------------------------------- *DEFENCE News* --------------------------------------- 1. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has strongly criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Performance yet again on the persistent delays in the delivery of the TEJAS MK-1 fighter jets, highlighting a broader issue of missed deadlines across major indigenous defence projects. Speaking at the CII Annual General Meeting & Business Summit 2025 in New Delhi, he said that despite a ₹48,000 crore contract signed in February 2021 for 83 aircraft, none have been delivered as of May 2025, even though deliveries were originally scheduled to begin in March 2024. 2. Chinese supplied HQ-9 air defence system to Pak failed miserably during Ops Sindoor. The Chinese military's refusal to comment on the battlefield flop of its weapons systems used by Pakistan during the May 2025 conflict with India represents a calculated diplomatic manoeuvre that reflects Beijing's complex balancing act in South Asian geopolitics. 3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described the approval of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program execution model as a “bold and decisive” move to significantly strengthen India’s defence arsenal and aerospace sector. sector.The government plans to develop five prototypes of this indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. 4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is poised to achieve a significant milestone in India's indigenous defence production with the scheduled delivery of the first batch of LCH Prachand helicopters to the Indian Armed Forces beginning in March 2028. 5. A major counter-insurgency operation in Odisha led to the arrest of Kunjam Hidma, a key Maoist leader and Area Committee Member (ACM) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), in the dense forests near Petguda village under Boipariguda Police Station in Koraput district. 6. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently made a significant statement during his address at the CII Business Summit in New Delhi, emphasising India’s enduring connection with the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Singh asserted that the inhabitants of PoK are regarded as part of the Indian family and expressed confidence that they would eventually return to India’s mainstream voluntarily. 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded Indian women for their active participation in Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the flag-in ceremony of INSV Tarini for the second leg of Navika Sagar Parikrama II in Goa, Mr Singh said women pilots significantly contributed to air force attacks during the operation. 8. India's defence establishment has achieved significant milestones in developing autonomous combat capabilities through the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior program, marking a transformative shift toward indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicles. This comprehensive initiative represents a strategic convergence of cutting-edge technologies, including stealth design principles, artificial intelligence integration, and advanced propulsion systems. 9. Mock Drills Under 'Operation Shield' To Be Held In Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, J&K On May 31. --------------------------------------- ✈ *INTERNATIONAL NEWS* --------------------------------------- 1. The Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while leading a multi-party delegation Panama in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor, delivered a robust message reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. At an event organised by the Indian Embassy in Panama City. Shashi Tharoor-led India delegation shows Pakistani Army officers' photos at terrorists' funeral to Panama president. 2. The all-party parliamentary delegation led by NCP (SCP) Supriya Sule met with the leaders of African National Congress led by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. 3. In Rome, the all party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad held a meeting with the President of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Senate, Stefania Craxi. 4. An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, visited Saudi Arabia from 27 to 29 May 2025 as part of India’s global diplomatic outreach following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir. 5. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri led the Indian delegation along with Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor for the inter-agency discussions on the India-US COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st century. The discussions at the White House in Washington focused on implementing the TRUST initiative, taking forward cooperation in the defence and energy domains, and strengthening the QUAD, IMEEC, and I2U2 initiatives. --------------------------------------- 🌎 *WORLD NEWS* 🌍 --------------------------------------- 1. A federal trade court in Manhattan, the United States Court of International Trade, issued a landmark ruling on Wednesday, blocking President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” import tariffs from taking effect.The court determined that the President had exceeded his authority by imposing broad-based duties on imports from countries that export more to the United States. 2. The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials accused of censoring American citizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the measures, stating that Americans had been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. 3. The Israeli government approved 22 new settlements in the West Bank, launching the largest settlement expansion in decades. Defense Minister Israel Katz said many of the settlements already exist as unauthorized outposts but will now be legalized under Israeli law. 4. Space and technology billionaire Elon Musk announced that his term as the chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has come to an end. He thanked US President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. 5. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza and brother of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month. --------------------------------------- 🚣🚴🏇🏊 *SPORTS* --------------------------------------- 1. In athletics, India’s Jyothi Yarraji and Avinash Sable delivered standout performances to win gold in their respective events at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships at GUMI, South Korea. (a) Sable clinched the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase title with a season-best time of 8 minutes, 20.92 seconds. With the victory, the two-time Olympian and reigning Asian Games champion became the first Indian man in 36 years to win steeplechase gold at the Asian Championships. He joins Harbans Singh (1975) and Dina Ram (1989) as the only Indian men to achieve the feat. (b) Yarraji claimed her second consecutive gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, clocking 12.96 seconds to set a new championship record. 2. The Indian men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty entered the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open badminton tournament. In women’s singles. P. V. Sindhu lost to China’s Chen Yu Fei, in her round of 16 match 9-21, 21-18, 16-21. 3. In Tennis, India’s Yuki Bhambri and his American partner Robert Galloway secured a hard-fought victory in the French Open men’s doubles opening round in Paris. Bhambri and Galloway edged out Robin Haase and Hendrik Jebens 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. Rohan Bopanna and his Czech partner Adam Pavlasek also progressed to the second round of the tournament after beating the American duo of Robert Cash and JJ Tracy 7-6, 5-7, 6-1. 4. Cristiano Ronaldo has once again amazed the football world. On May 26, 2025, he scored his 800th club goal in a Saudi Pro League match for AI-Nassr against AI-Fateh. Even though lost 3-2, Ronaldo's goal was historic. At the age of 40, he is still performing at the highest level. 5. Shubman Gill, the new Test series captain of India, has added a stylish touch to his cricket gear. He is now the brand ambassador for Oakley, a famous sunglasses company. -------------------------------------- 🇮🇳 *FACTS ABOUT BHARAT* 🇮🇳 ======================= *SHANI SHINGANAPUR* is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is known for its popular temple of Shani, the Hindu god associated with the planet (graha) Saturn. Shingnapur is 35km from Ahmednagar city. Lord Shanaishwara can be seen in unique looking black stone swayambhu form., in the open yard without any roof above. Due to the fear of Lord Shani, none of the structures, be it dwelling houses, huts, shops, etc. situated within one kilometer radius of this Lord Shani temple have neither doors nor locks.[  To this day, there are no doors for any houses, shops, temples. It is to be seen to believe that even post office has no door, not to speak of locks.