National & State News

1. Delhi Heatwave Peaks: Temperatures in the national capital have crossed a scorching 45°C. The Met office has forecast severe heatwave conditions until May 25, prompting authorities to invoke GRAP 1 (Graded Response Action Plan) measures.

2. Summer Relief for Workers: In response to the extreme heat, the Delhi government has begun distributing specialized summer kits—including ORS sachets and sun caps—to construction workers across the city.

 National Governance & Competitive Exams

• UPSC to release provisional answer key immediately after prelims – In a major relief for civil services aspirants, the UPSC announced it will begin releasing the Provisional Answer Key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination right after the exam. Candidates can raise objections through the new "QPRep" portal until May 31 – a transparency boost.

• CAPF Bill 2026 faces officer protests – The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, which formalises IPS deputation quotas for senior leadership roles, continues to face strong protests from serving and retired cadre officers concerned about career stagnation – a heated debate in security circles.

National News & Politics

• Kerala gets a new Chief Minister – V D Satheesan of the Congress will take oath as Kerala's CM today at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the UDF's return to power after a decade – a fresh start for God's Own Country.

• 20‑member cabinet to take oath – Alongside Satheesan, veteran leaders Ramesh Chennithala and K Muraleedharan will be sworn in, while Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been appointed as the Speaker of the Assembly – experience meets new energy.

 National News & Governance

• Rajdhani Express fire scare near Kota – A massive fire broke out in the B‑1 AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram‑Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express. Thankfully, prompt action meant all passengers were safely rescued – no casualties, just a lot of relief.

• Ravi‑Beas tribunal on ground inspection – The Ravi‑Beas Tribunal, headed by Justice Vineet Saran, arrived in Punjab to inspect the Harike and Hussainiwala headworks – stepping into the middle of an ongoing inter‑state water‑sharing tussle.

National Affairs & Political Updates

PM Modi Refutes Foreign Travel Tax Speculation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly rejected reports suggesting the Centre was considering a levy on overseas travel to cushion the impact of volatile crude oil prices. Calling the claims baseless, he clarified that no such proposal is under discussion within the government.

India-UAE Deepen Energy Partnership:
India and the United Arab Emirates signed a strategic agreement on petroleum reserves during high-level discussions in Abu Dhabi. The arrangement will enable the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to store crude oil in India’s underground facilities, strengthening India’s long-term energy preparedness and supply resilience.