Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stern message to BJP leaders in Bihar ahead of the state’s Assembly elections. Cautioning against political turncoats or "Paltu Rams", he said switching sides before elections only to return weakens one's importance. Modi also urged the party cadre to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor and empower grassroots workers. Emphasizing internal discipline, he stressed the need to end dynastic politics and called for merit-based ticket distribution. The Bihar elections will see a showdown between the BJP-JD(U) alliance and the RJD-led opposition, with CM Nitish Kumar continuing to be a pivotal figure. (PC: India Today)

India’s cricket is entering a new era with young stars rising rapidly. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at 13, scored a 58-ball century against Australia U-19, the fastest for India in youth Tests. Tilak Varma made back-to-back T20I centuries vs South Africa, the youngest to do so against a top nation. In the IPL, Priyansh Arya’s 39-ball century for Punjab Kings and Suryansh Shedge’s all-round brilliance for Mumbai stand out. Ayush Mhatre shines for Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings, showcasing great all-round skills. These players are shaping India’s cricket future. (PC: The Hindu)

On May 30, 2025, a devastating explosion occurred at a firecracker manufacturing and packaging unit near a village in Punjab's Sri Muktsar Sahib district, resulting in the deaths of five migrant laborers and injuring several others. The blast caused the building to collapse, trapping workers under the debris. Rescue operations are underway, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in India's fireworks industry, where inadequate safety measures and illegal operations have led to numerous tragedies in recent years. (PC: PTI)  

WhatsApp is testing a new "Logout" feature in its beta version 2.25.17.37, allowing users to sign out from their primary device without losing account data. Currently, logging out requires deleting the app on iOS or clearing data on Android. The new feature presents two options: "Erase all Data & preferences" or "Keep all Data & preferences," facilitating temporary breaks or account switching, especially for single-SIM users. The logout button is located in user settings below the account deletion option. It's unclear when or if this feature will be publicly released or available on both Android and iOS platforms. (PC: CNBC TV 18)  

A recent Jefferies report highlights India's exceptional growth in the global steel sector, with a 33% increase in steel output from 2019 to 2024, contrasting a 1% global decline. The report attributes this to India's robust infrastructure development, rising domestic demand, and supportive government policies, including a 12% safeguard duty on flat steel imports introduced in April 2025. Jefferies projects an 8–10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in steel volumes for FY25–27. The firm has upgraded ratings for major Indian steel companies, such as Tata Steel and JSW Steel, citing strong fundamentals and growth prospects. (PC: ANI)

Amid internal discord sparked by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's assertion that India's first surgical strike occurred in 2016, the Congress party has reiterated its claim that six such operations were conducted during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure. Party general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala defended Tharoor as a "seasoned and experienced" leader but corrected his statement, emphasizing that surgical strikes were a regular feature under the UPA to counter terrorism. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly refuted this claim, citing a 2018 Right to Information (RTI) response from the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) stating no surgical strikes occurred under the UPA. The BJP accused Congress of disseminating false information, urging the party to "stop lying." (PC: PTI)

On May 26, 2025, Indian-American entrepreneur and Republican politician Vivek Ramaswamy shared a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary with wife Apoorva. The post recounted their first date hiking Flattop Mountain in 2011 and their recent return to complete the hike. However, the post attracted racist and anti-immigrant comments, with users telling the couple to "go back to India" and questioning their skin tone. The backlash is linked to Ramaswamy's controversial stance on the H-1B visa program, which he has criticized despite his own Indian heritage. (PC: MSN)

On May 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio submitted a reorganization plan to Congress, proposing an expanded role for the India Desk within the State Department. The plan suggests that the official currently overseeing India and Bhutan would also manage relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. This restructuring aims to streamline operations by reducing the number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries in the South and Central Asia Bureau from four to three. Afghanistan and Pakistan would remain under a separate deputy assistant secretary. The initiative aligns with the Trump administration's goals of enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness in foreign policy operations. (PC: Reuters)  

On May 28, 2025, during Pakistan's Youm-e-Takbeer celebrations, senior ministers, including Food Minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, publicly shared the stage with Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked figures such as Saifullah Kasuri, the alleged mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in India. Also present were Talha Saeed, son of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, and Amir Hamza. The ministers openly embraced and glorified these individuals, referring to them as "symbols of Pakistan." This event has intensified concerns over Pakistan's alleged state support for terrorism, especially following India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (PC: India Global)      

In response to recent security concerns, the Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified its Village Defence Guards (VDGs) initiative by providing arms training to residents in Jammu's border areas. This move aims to empower local communities, especially minorities, to defend against militant threats. The VDGs, formerly known as Village Defence Committees, were originally established in the 1990s to counter insurgency in remote regions. Recent incidents, including attacks in Dhangri village, have prompted the revival and reinforcement of these groups. While the initiative seeks to bolster local security, it has also raised concerns about potential communal tensions and the risks associated with arming civilians. (PC: The Hindu)