Coal Gasification Scheme, India's Sugar Ban & Keralam's New CM 13 Key Stories

National News

Cabinet Approves Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)-Dholera Rail Project Worth ₹20,667 Crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)-Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line Rail Project, marking India’s first semi high-speed railway corridor developed with indigenous technology.
The ₹20,667 crore project, approved under the leadership of Narendra Modi, will add around 134 km to the railway network and is expected to be completed by FY 2030–31.
The corridor will strengthen connectivity between Ahmedabad, the Dholera Special Investment Region, the upcoming Dholera International Airport and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex, boosting industrial growth, logistics and tourism.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the project is expected to support multi-modal connectivity, regional economic expansion, employment generation and India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Narendra Modi-Led Cabinet Approves ₹37,500 Crore Coal Gasification Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved a ₹37,500 crore scheme to promote surface coal and lignite gasification projects across the country.
The initiative aims to gasify nearly 75 million tonnes of coal and lignite and supports India’s larger target of achieving 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.
Coal gasification converts coal into syngas (synthesis gas), which can be used to produce products such as methanol, ammonia, urea, synthetic natural gas (SNG), and industrial chemicals, helping reduce India’s heavy dependence on imports.
The scheme offers incentives of up to 20% of plant and machinery costs, along with 30-year coal linkage support, to encourage large-scale industrial investment under the visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

Piyush Goyal Announces Export Growth Plan at LEAPS 2025 Awards

Piyush Goyal announced India’s ambitious goal of achieving $1 trillion in exports during the current financial year while releasing the LEADS 2025 Report and presenting the LEAPS 2025 Awards in New Delhi.
India recorded a historic $863 billion in exports in FY 2025–26, despite global challenges such as geopolitical tensions, slower economic growth and trade uncertainties, while services exports grew by nearly 8.5–9%.
The minister highlighted that India now has trade coverage with 38 developed economies through multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), with ongoing negotiations involving regions such as the GCC, Canada, Mexico and Mercosur.
The LEADS 2025 report recognized top logistics performers including Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Delhi, while the LEAPS 2025 Awards honoured companies like FedEx Express, Safexpress and Delhivery for excellence in logistics and supply chain operations.

India Imposes Immediate Ban on Sugar Exports Until September 2026

India has imposed an immediate ban on sugar exports until 30 September 2026, shifting policy from “restricted” to “prohibited”, according to the DGFT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry). The restriction covers raw, white, and refined sugar, aiming to ensure domestic supply stability and control inflation risks.
Limited exemptions apply for shipments already in transit or pre-cleared, and select exports under government approval and tariff quotas (EU, US) will continue.
The decision comes as India, the world’s second-largest sugar producer, faces tighter domestic balance estimates, with concerns over low closing stocks and rising food inflation pressures.

India’s Clean Energy Push Gets a Boost as Maize Leads Ethanol Production

India’s ethanol programme has entered a major transition phase as maize emerged as the country’s largest ethanol feedstock for the first time during the first half of Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26.
According to estimates compiled by the All India Distillers Association, maize contributed around 182 crore litres of ethanol, overtaking other feedstocks such as surplus rice and damaged food grains.
India’s cumulative ethanol supply crossed 515 crore litres in the first six months of ESY 2025-26, reflecting strong momentum in the country’s clean fuel and ethanol blending programme.
Industry experts say maize is becoming the preferred feedstock because it offers year-round availability, lower water consumption compared to sugarcane, and better long-term scalability for higher ethanol blending targets beyond E20.
Despite this shift, sugarcane-based ethanol continues to remain a major contributor to India’s biofuel ecosystem.

State News

V. D. Satheesan Named Kerala’s Next Chief Minister by Indian National Congress

The V. D. Satheesan has been chosen by the Indian National Congress to lead the new government in Kerala after the United Democratic Front secured a massive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The announcement ends days of leadership speculation involving senior leaders like K. C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
The UDF reportedly won 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, defeating the Left Democratic Front led by Pinarayi Vijayan and ending a decade of Left rule in the state.
A practicing lawyer and six-time MLA from Paravur, Satheesan previously served as the Leader of Opposition and is now set to become Kerala’s next Chief Minister for the first time.

UCC Bill Gets Assam Cabinet Nod Along with Development Measures

The Assam Cabinet led by Himanta Biswa Sarma has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, which is expected to be introduced in the State Assembly on May 26.
The proposed law aims to create a common civil framework covering matters such as marriage, divorce, property succession, live-in relationships, compulsory marriage registration, and divorce registration.
A Uniform Civil Code refers to a common set of civil laws applicable to all citizens regardless of religion, replacing religion-based personal laws in certain civil matters. The Assam government said the move promotes legal uniformity, equality before law, and transparency.
The state has clarified that tribal communities, religious rituals, traditional customs, and cultural practices will remain exempt from the proposed law. Assam now joins states like Goa and Uttarakhand in advancing discussions around state-level UCC implementation.

International News

Yoweri Museveni Sworn In for Seventh Term as Uganda President

Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh term as President of Uganda, extending one of the longest political tenures in modern African history.
The 81-year-old leader, who first came to power in 1986, took the oath in the capital city of Kampala after securing victory in the January 2026 presidential election with 71.65% of the vote, according to Uganda’s Electoral Commission.
His main challenger, Bobi Wine, received 24.72% of the votes. Supporters credit Museveni with stabilizing Uganda, improving infrastructure and strengthening regional security, while critics argue that his prolonged rule has weakened democratic institutions.
Museveni’s continued presidency was enabled by constitutional amendments that removed both presidential term limits and age restrictions, allowing him to remain eligible for office after nearly four decades in power.

BRICS Foreign Ministers to begin today in New Delhi

The BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting 2026 began on 14 May in New Delhi, chaired by S. Jaishankar, marking an important step ahead of India’s BRICS Chairmanship 2026.
The two-day meeting includes discussions on global geopolitics, regional security, economic cooperation, and multilateral reforms.
A key focus is BRICS@20, emphasizing resilience, innovation, and sustainable development as the grouping approaches its 20-year milestone.
Leaders also discussed reform of global governance institutions like the UN and financial systems to improve representation for developing countries.
The event strengthens India’s role in Global South leadership and international diplomacy under Narendra Modi’s government.

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Banking News

FinBox Launches Agentic AI Platform Atlas to Tackle India’s Loan Dropout Crisis

FinBox has launched Atlas, an AI-native lending platform to speed up loan processing and reduce borrower drop-offs in India’s digital lending ecosystem.
The platform automates onboarding and document handling through two modules—Atlas Flow and Atlas Origin, using conversational and AI-driven verification tools.
It reduces loan approval time from nearly 21 days to 24 hours, with reported improvements like 85% application completion and fewer manual errors.
Powered by agentic AI, Atlas helps banks and NBFCs streamline underwriting and fraud detection, supporting faster, more efficient, and scalable credit delivery.

RBI Cancels Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Licence with Immediate Effect

The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd with immediate effect after identifying serious financial and regulatory weaknesses. The bank can no longer accept deposits, allow withdrawals, issue loans, or conduct normal banking operations.
According to RBI, the action was taken due to an inadequate capital base, weak earnings prospects, regulatory non-compliance, and risks to depositor interests. Maharashtra authorities have also been asked to begin the bank’s winding-up process and appoint a liquidator.
Most depositors remain protected under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation insurance framework, which covers deposits up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank, including savings accounts, fixed deposits, recurring deposits, and accrued interest.
RBI stated that around 98.36% of depositors are expected to receive their full insured amount.

Business News

Uber Partners with Adani Group for First Data Centre in India

Uber has partnered with the Adani Group to build its first data centre in India, marking a major expansion of its digital infrastructure in one of its key global markets.
The announcement followed a meeting between Dara Khosrowshahi and Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad.
The facility will strengthen Uber’s ability to test, scale, and deploy technology for global operations, leveraging India’s strong engineering talent, digital economy, and growing AI and cloud ecosystem. Data centres support real-time app services, AI systems, and payment infrastructure.
The move also aligns with Adani’s push into AI-ready, green-powered digital infrastructure development.

Important Days News

International Day of Families 2026: Date, Theme, Significance & History

The International Day of Families 2026 is observed on 15 May to highlight the role of families in society and promote policies that strengthen family wellbeing worldwide.
The theme “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing” focuses on how rising income inequality, limited access to healthcare and education, and lack of social protection affect children’s development. It calls for stronger support systems such as childcare, parental leave, and poverty reduction measures.
The day, established by the United Nations, encourages global discussions on building more inclusive societies and is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in areas of health, education, and reduced inequalities.