India's opposition to the global phase-out of Chlorpyrifos, a hazardous insecticide, has sparked environmental and policy discussions at the global level. The issue arose during the 2025 meetings of the BRS Conventions where many countries advocated for banning the pesticide under the Stockholm Convention. Despite strong scientific evidence about its harmful effects on human health and the environment, India cited food security and lack of alternatives as major concerns, urging for broader exemptions.
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide registered in India since 1977 under the Insecticides Act.
Used on crops like rice, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, mustard, brinjal, cabbage, onion, among others.
South Korea's Conservative Party Names Kim Moon Soo as Presidential Pick
Former Labour Minister Kim Moon Soo won the presidential nomination of South Korea's main conservative party, facing an uphill battle against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung for the June 3 election.
As per reports, Kim will likely try to align with other conservative forces, such as former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, to prevent a split in conservative votes in a bid to boost prospects for a conservative win against Lee.
NITI Aayog's New Report Aims to Boost MSME Competitiveness in India
NITI Aayog released a report titled Enhancing Competitiveness of MSMEs in India, in collaboration with the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC). The report provides a comprehensive analysis of India's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), identifying key challenges and presenting a set of systemic reforms aimed at boosting their competitiveness. The recommendations focus on financing, innovation, skill development, and market access, paving the way for MSMEs to thrive in both domestic and global markets.
Sanjay Khanna Takes Over the Additional Charge of Chairman & Managing Director of BPCL
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Fortune Global 500 company, and one of India's leading oil and gas companies, announced that Sanjay Khanna assumed additional charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.
A Chemical Engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli and Postgraduate in Finance Management from Mumbai University, he has over 3 decades of experience in refinery operations and technical services.
Lloyd Tennant Appointed as Ireland Women's Team Head Coach
Cricket Ireland announced Lloyd Tennant as Ireland Women's team head coach. Tennant will begin his tenure on June 1, replacing Ed Joyce.
Tennant is an ECB Level 4 qualified cricket coach with over 30 years of experience in coaching and developing international, regional and first-class cricketers and teams. He is also the former head coach of Central Sparks, a position he held for four years.
Subhasish Bose Crowned AIFF Men's Player of the Year
Subhasish Bose and Soumya Guguloth were named the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Best Men's and Women's Players of the Year 2024-25 on the AIFF Awards Day in Bhubaneswar. The award function was held in the Odisha capital on the eve of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final.
Apart from Bose and Guguloth, the other individual award winners were Khalid Jamil (Best Men's Coach), Sujata Kar (Best Women's Coach), Vishal Kaith (Best Men's Goalkeeper), Elangbam Panthoi Chanu (Best Women's Goalkeeper), Brison Fernandes (Promising Men's Player), Toijam Thoibisana Chanu (Promising Women's Player), Venkatesh R (Best Male Referee), Tekcham Ranjita Devi (Best Female Referee), Vairamuthu P (Best Male Assistant Referee), and Riiohlang Dhar (Best Female Assistant Referee).
In a significant move to bolster the integrity and accuracy of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled three major initiatives. These reforms aim to streamline voter data management and enhance the efficiency of electoral processes.
Key reforms announced by ECI to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls:
1. Electronic integration of death registrations
To address the issue of deceased individuals remaining on electoral rolls, the ECI plans to electronically integrate death registration data with the electoral database. This collaboration with civil registration authorities will facilitate the timely removal of names of deceased persons, ensuring cleaner and more accurate voter lists.
2. Enhanced voter information slips
The Commission is set to redesign Voter Information Slips to make them more user-friendly and informative. These slips will provide voters with clear details about their polling stations, serial numbers in the electoral roll, and other essential information, thereby improving the voting experience and reducing confusion on election day.
3. Standardised identity cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
Recognising the pivotal role of BLOs in maintaining electoral rolls, the ECI will issue standardised identity cards to these officials. This measure aims to enhance the credibility and accountability of BLOs, making it easier for voters to identify and interact with them during electoral processes.
These initiatives reflect the ECI's commitment to leveraging technology and administrative reforms to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process and ensure that every eligible citizen can exercise their franchise with ease and confidence.
IIT-Kanpur Tasked with Developing AI to Clean Yamuna, Tackle Air Pollution
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that he has tasked IIT-Kanpur with building AI "technology" for cleaning Yamuna, easing congestion and targeting other urban challenges.
"Cleaning the Yamuna is both our commitment and responsibility. IIT-Kanpur is working on AI-driven solutions to clean the Yamuna and tackle air pollution," he added.
Create in India Challenge Season 1: Shaping India's Creative Future
The much-anticipated Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, an initiative that captured the imagination of creators across the globe, culminated in a spectacular ceremony at WAVES 2025, made a significant milestone for India's creative landscape. This monumental event honoured the winners of 32 distinct challenges, spanning every domain of the media and entertainment industry, from animation, gaming, and filmmaking to AI, music, and digital art.
The prestigious awards were presented by a stellar lineup of industry legends, including Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Vikrant Massey, Prasoon Joshi, and Aroon Purie, alongside other dignitaries and officials.
This initiative served as a launch pad for the next generation of creators who are redefining India's position in the global entertainment and technology ecosystem.
Vishnu Prasad Versatile Malayalam Actor Passed Away
Renowned Malayalam actor Vishnu Prasad, known for his compelling performances in negative roles, passed away at the age of 52.
Vishnu Prasad was known for his compelling performances in both cinema and television. His film credits include notable roles in Kasi (2001), the Tamil remake of Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, Kaiyethum Doorath (2002), Runway (2004), Lion (2006), Mambazhakkalam (2004), Ben Johnson (2005), Lokanathan IAS (2005), and Pathaka (2006). He also had a significant presence on Malayalam television, earning admiration for his versatile acting and commitment to his craft.
World Press Freedom Day also known as World Press Day World is celebrated on May 3 every year to commemorate the fundamental principles of the press and to honour world journalists. The day stresses the importance of a free and independent press and promotes the freedom of expression in the world.
The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 on the recommendations of the UNESCO General Conference. The day is observed to mark the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together. This document calls for an independent and pluralistic media environment.
Delhi Launches Mobile Registration Campaign for Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana
The Delhi government launched a 'Mobile Registration Campaign' under the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana, a major healthcare initiative for senior citizens aged 70 and above in the national Capital.
The scheme, part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), promises free treatment of up to Rs. 10 lakh per beneficiary.
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana is a health insurance scheme offering cashless treatment. The costs of this scheme will be jointly borne by the Central and Delhi governments.
This scheme is universal for all residents of Delhi aged 70 and above, regardless of their social or economic background. However, the benefits are restricted to those who are native residents of Delhi and possess a valid Aadhaar card.
AI Literacy Curriculum Framework to be Launched for Students from Class 6 to 10 in Delhi
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy-based curriculum will be launched on May 8 for students of Classes 6 to 10 in Delhi. The curriculum framework, AI Samarth, will be launched by the Central Square Foundation (CSF). It has been developed in partnership with the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at IIT-Madras.
It has been designed for creating an environment which enables safe and ethical use, as well as knowledge and awareness of AI, focused on children between age groups of 11-14 years.
The initiative is geared towards developing a comprehensive AI literacy curriculum framework for both students and teachers, and building an open-source content stack which can be accessed by them in four languages — Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia and English.
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