The Times of India

After winning the BJP a brute majority in the 2026 Assam assembly polls, the question now is whether Himanta Biswa Sarma stands at par with chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath and Devendra Fadnavis, who are widely regarded as disciplined Sangh loyalists and potential next generation leaders of the BJP in the post Modi-Shah era.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, as Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, reiterated his call for the eradication of Sanatan Dharma, stating it divides people. He also emphasized the primacy of the Tamil invocation song, Tamil Thai Vazhthu, at all government events, demanding it not be sidelined.

Rahul Gandhi and TMC have sharply criticised the appointment of former chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal as West Bengal's chief secretary by the new BJP government. Critics allege this rewards Agarwal for his role in the recent Assembly elections, questioning the Election Commission's neutrality and the fairness of the polls. The BJP defends the decision, citing service rules.

NEET-UG 2026 exam has been cancelled by the National Testing Agency due to a massive guess paper leak, impacting over 22 lakh students. The government has ordered a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. The re-examination dates will be announced soon, with existing registrations carrying forward. This decision aims to protect the integrity of the national examination system.

A faction of AIADMK, led by S.P. Velumani and C.V. Shanmugam, has announced support for Chief Minister Vijay's TVK government ahead of a crucial floor test. This move comes amid internal rifts within AIADMK over potential alliances, with the faction opposing any tie-up with DMK. Vijay is working to secure the required majority with support from various parties.

A US-based businessman, Graham Walker, gifted his 540 employees a staggering $240 million from the $1.7 billion sale of his family's company, Fibrebond Corp. This generous act, where workers received an average of $443,000, stemmed from a condition Walker imposed before the sale to power-management giant Eaton.

Meta is cutting 8,000 jobs on May 20 as CEO Mark Zuckerberg rebuilds the company around small, AI-powered teams. With capex hitting a record $125145 billion this year, CFO Susan Li admitted there's no clean answer for what Meta's ideal headcount even looks like anymore. The company wants builders who can ship alone what teams once built togetherand is letting everyone else go.

The Trinamool Congress has criticized the appointment of former Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal as West Bengal's Chief Secretary by the new BJP government. The party labeled the move shameless, questioning the neutrality of the election process after Agarwal oversaw the recent Assembly elections.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured citizens that India is prepared for global supply chain disruptions, with ample petroleum products and robust foreign exchange reserves. He urged fuel conservation to ease the nation's financial burden amid high international crude prices. The government is implementing measures for fuel efficiency and responsible consumption.

The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea challenging the environmental clearance for Pipavav port expansion in Gujarat, questioning environmentalists' stance on development projects. The court emphasized the necessity of infrastructure for national development, while allowing the environmentalist to approach the NGT again with specific objections.

'Advance Copy Of Petition To Be Given To Govts'

Opposition parties are criticizing PM Modi's call for austerity amidst the West Asia crisis, labeling it a tactic to evade accountability for economic failures. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge argue the PM is shifting responsibility onto the public. Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav also questioned the timing and perceived hypocrisy of these austerity demands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a five-nation tour starting Friday, with the UAE as his first stop. He will meet President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including energy cooperation. This visit marks his first to a Gulf country since the West Asia conflict began.

Congress is expanding consultations to select Kerala's new chief minister, with AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and leader of opposition V D Satheesan vying for the top post. The party leadership is engaging with former state presidents and other leaders to ensure the final nominee is well-received, amid speculation and potential backlash.

CPM's MA Baby defended Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, stating the party's defeat is a collective responsibility, not an individual's. He emphasized self-criticism and corrective measures for the entire leadership. Baby also expressed concern over the rise of right-wing forces and the BJP's gains in Kerala.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the region's liquor policy, stating shops are for those whose religion permits consumption. His comments come amid a 100-day anti-drug campaign, with calls to extend it to liquor. Abdullah highlighted his government's efforts to prevent youth from consuming alcohol, including not opening new shops.

India recorded a 16.4% decline in environment and pollution-related crimes in 2024, with 57,670 cases reported. The majority of these offenses, over 80%, were violations of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). Noise pollution and forest-related acts followed as the next most reported offenses.

The Times Internet Half Marathon 2026 celebrated diversity and passion, with young runners like winner Rohit Singh Chauhan, Jigmet Stobdan from Ladakh, and Narottam Gaud from Uttar Pradesh showcasing remarkable speed and dedication. The event highlighted running's power to unite individuals from across India, fostering a shared love for the sport and celebrating diverse journeys and aspirations.

The Times Internet Half Marathon 2026 celebrated diverse journeys, with Aishani Saxena winning the 10K Under 29 Female category. Lakshmi Kumari from Bihar, a novice runner, secured first runner-up, while Armenia's Jebid Jouharian, who fosters a running community, took second. The event highlighted running's power to unite people across borders.

Manoj Kumar Agarwal

West Bengal's new BJP government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has launched the Annapurna Bhandaar scheme. Eligible women will receive 3,000 monthly, replacing the previous Lakshmir Bhandar. The cabinet also approved integrating the state with central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and addressing illegal immigration.

In a separate direction, the state government also asked departments to discontinue the re-employment and service extensions granted to officers and officials who continued beyond the usual retirement age of 60 years. The government has issued an order to take necessary action to immediately terminate the tenures of the nominated members, directors, or chairpersons of different boards, organisations, non-statutory bodies and public sector undertakings of the state government, a senior bureaucrat

Rahul Gandhi criticizes PM Modi's economic appeals as a sign of failure, while a security scare involving explosives near the PM's convoy route prompts an NIA investigation. Meanwhile, Iran defends its peace proposal against US unreasonable demands, and a US passenger from a Hantavirus-hit cruise tests positive but shows no symptoms.

AIADMK faces internal turmoil following a significant electoral defeat in Tamil Nadu, with divisions surfacing over leadership and potential support for the new TVK government. MLAs arrived in separate groups for the assembly, highlighting a visible rift and raising questions about the party's future cohesion and relevance.

West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chaired his first cabinet meeting, approving six key decisions to end state-Centre deadlock. These include facilitating land for BSF border fencing, rolling out central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, and aligning IAS/IPS officers with central training.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce fuel and edible oil consumption, citing the West Asia crisis and global supply chain disruptions. Opposition parties criticized the appeal, calling it an admission of failure and a shift of responsibility onto the public after elections. The BJP defended the PM's call as responsible leadership and national interest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years since the restored temple's inauguration. He offered prayers, performed rituals, and paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The event also featured aerial displays by the IAF's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.

Renowned music icon Elton John imparts his valuable insights, reminding us that while diligence and strategy are essential, true triumphs often come down to intuition and destiny. He encourages us to seize every moment with passion and conviction, drawing inspiration from his incredible path of overcoming obstacles to achieve global stardom.

Tamil Nadu's chief minister's swearing-in ceremony sparked controversy as the state song 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu' was placed third, after the national song and anthem. This deviation from tradition, where the state song usually begins government events, drew strong objections from CPI and the ruling TVK party, which vowed to revert to the established practice.

Daily wage earners constituted 31% of all suicide deaths in 2024, the highest in a decade, with 52,910 such fatalities. This marks a significant increase from previous years, as the total number of suicides nationwide rose to 1.7 lakh. Family problems and illness remain the primary reported causes for these tragic deaths.

Two Indian crew members aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are healthy and asymptomatic following a hantavirus scare. The vessel anchored off Spain's Canary Islands, and the two Indians have since been evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine and health monitoring.