Exp. SEBI mandates e-book mechanism for pvt debt securities above ₹20 cr

SEBI mandates the Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform for private placement debt issues of ₹20 crore or more, including debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares, and municipal bonds, reducing the earlier threshold of ₹50 crore.

The EBP platform now covers Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs), and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) for private placement of units, as well as securitised debt instruments, security receipts, commercial papers, and certificates of deposit.

Issuers must submit a placement memorandum and term sheet two working days (three for first-time users) before the issue opens, detailing base issue size, green shoe option (capped at five times base size), and past green shoe allocations.

Based on credit ratings, issuers can reserve up to 30% (AAA to AA-), 40% (A+/A-), or 50% (others) of the issue for anchor investors, with unconfirmed amounts reallocated to the base issue and proportionate allotments for multiple bids at the same cut-off price.

EBPs must update bidding and issue details publicly by the end of the bidding day or 1 PM the next day, with new timelines for in-principle stock exchange approvals (T-2/T-3 for EBP issues) and phased implementation of some clauses within three to six months.

Exp. ICRA Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.3% for FY2024- 25

ICRA projected India’s GDP growth at 6.9% for Q4 FY2025 and 6.3% for the full fiscal year 2024-25, below the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) earlier estimate of 6.5% for FY25.

To meet the NSO’s 6.5% growth target for FY25, Q4 GDP growth needed to reach 7.6%, but ICRA expects it to fall short at 6.9%, indicating a slowdown from earlier quarters.

Updated GDP List

• UN – 6.3% (CY25), 6.4% (CY26)
• Deloitte’s – 6.6% (FY26)
• S&P Global Ratings – 6.3% (FY26), 6.5% (FY27)
• World Bank – 6.3% (FY26)
• IMF – 6.2% (FY26), 6.3% (FY27)
• Fitch Rating –6.2% (FY25), 6.4% (FY26), 6.3% (FY27)

Exp. SBM Bank India Partners with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to Expand Retail Banking and Insurance Offerings

SBM Bank India has formed a strategic partnership with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to enhance retail banking by offering a wide range of insurance, savings, and wealth creation products.

The collaboration follows a bancassurance model, enabling customers to buy insurance easily via SBM Bank’s 22 branches and digital platforms, simplifying access to life insurance and financial solutions.

SBM Bank’s dual strategy of expanding physical branches and leveraging digital channels complements this alliance, strengthening its position as the first universal bank licensed under the WOS model in India.

Both institutions expect the partnership to boost product diversity, deepen customer engagement, and extend ICICI Prudential’s reach, providing customers with convenient, trusted financial protection through SBM Bank.

Exp. Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches Digital Civil List 2025 with Enhanced AI Features

Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the 70th edition of the Civil List, 2025 as an e-book, marking the fifth fully digital version; the list is a comprehensive directory of serving IAS officers across India, published by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The e-Civil List features enhanced digital tools, including embedded hyperlinks and searchable options, with proposed AI-based domain-specific search functionalities for better officer identification in mission-mode governance.

The 2025 edition includes new additions such as officers’ photographs and details like batch, cadre, posting, pay level, educational qualifications, and retirement dates; it also offers historical data from 1969 and projected retirements over the next five years.

Aligned with the Digital India mission, this eco-friendly initiative discontinues hard copies to reduce government expenditure and promote digital governance, reflecting the Centre’s focus on modernization and transparency.

Exp. GeM Celebrates 8th Incorporation Day with Launch of GeMAI

On its 8th Incorporation Day, GeM unveiled GeMAI, India’s first generative AI-powered chatbot in the public sector. It supports both voice and text interactions in 10 Indian languages, enhancing user experience and accessibility.

GeM’s inclusive approach has led to the onboarding of over 10 lakh MSEs, 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs, 1.3 lakh artisans/weavers, and 31,000+ startups, strengthening its role as a bridge between government buyers and grassroots-level sellers.

With 1.64 lakh primary buyers, 4.2 lakh sellers, and over 10,000 product categories, GeM has grown threefold in recent years and helped achieve nearly 10% cost savings in government procurement, validated by the World Bank and Economic Survey.

Exp. TCS ranked among World’s top 100 most valuable brands in Kantar BrandZ 2025 Report

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s most valued information technology services company by market capitalisation and also one of the largest private sector employers, has been named one of the 100 most valuable brands globally in the 2025 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands Report.

In the special 20th edition of the Kantar BrandZ report unveiled at a ceremony in New York, TCS was assigned a brand value of $57.3 billion, reflecting a strong 28% year-on-year growth.

TCS now holds the 45th position in the global rankings, which feature the most recognised and influential brands across industries.

This year’s growth underscores a significant surge in brand equity, favorability, and global recognition. According to an independent brand audit by Momentum-ITSMA, TCS has achieved 95% aided brand awareness among business decision-makers across 26 countries—an extraordinary rise from just 29% in 2010.

Exp. Arunabha Ghosh Appointed South Asia Envoy for COP-30 Climate Summit in Brazil

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Delhi-based think tank CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment and Water), has been appointed as the South Asia envoy for the upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP-30) to be held in Brazil in November 2025.

He is one of eight international envoys selected to represent strategic global regions and will work to ensure strong representation of South Asian perspectives in climate negotiations.

Other prominent envoys include global figures like Jacinda Ardern, Patricia Espinosa, Laurence Tubiana, and Adnan Amin, highlighting the significance of the role.

Recent Appointment in Foreign

• President of MCC – Former England selector England’s Ed Smith (replace Lord King of Lothbury)
• South Asia Envoy for COP-30 Climate Summit in Brazil – Arunabha Ghosh Appointed
• Chairman of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Harvansh Chawla named
• Foreign Minister of Canada – Hindu Origin Anita Anand

Exp. Indian Army Conducts Teesta Prahar Exercise in West Bengal

The Indian Army conducted a large-scale field exercise named ‘Teesta Prahar’ at the Teesta field firing range, demonstrating high operational readiness in riverine terrain with participation from various combat and support arms.

The exercise involved Infantry, Artillery, Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry, Para SF, Army Aviation, Engineers, and Signals, showcasing synergy and jointness among forces.

A major highlight was the deployment and validation of next-gen weapon systems and battlefield technologies, reflecting the Army’s push towards modernization and readiness for dynamic combat scenarios.

Recent Exercise

• 11th of Talisman Sabre Exercise 2025 between india, Australia, Japan, & USA – Papua New Guinea
• Indian Air Force Joins Multinational ‘Desert Flag-10’ Exercise in UAE
• 6th edition of DUSTLIK exercise between India and Uzbekistan – Foreign Training Node, Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra
• Indian Air Force (IAF) participate in the multinational air exercise INIOCHOS-25 in Greece’s Hellenic Air Force.
• 14th edition of Exercise Indra between India and Russia -Chennai

Exp. Kerala Becomes First State to Mandate Robotics Education for All Class 10 Students

Kerala becomes the first state in India to make robotics education mandatory for all 4.3 lakh Class 10 students, starting June 2, 2025, through the ICT textbook chapter “The World of Robots.”

The curriculum includes hands-on activities like circuit building, sensor integration, and coding using robotic kits (29,000 already distributed) with components like Arduino, IR sensors, and servo motors.

Students will also develop AI-powered smart home projects, including face-recognition smart doors using Pictoblocks software, webcams, and Arduino kits.

KITE (Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education) is spearheading the initiative, having trained nearly 9,924 teachers and planning more training and support for unaided schools in July.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar

Exp. RBI Imposes ₹1.66 Lakh Penalty on Union Bank of India

RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.66 lakh on Union Bank of India due to discrepancies in soiled note remittance and ATM cash-outs.

The bank stated that the penalty has no significant impact on its financial or operational activities and that preventive measures have been taken to avoid future issues.

Exp. Max Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Verstappen took his second win of the season, and first since last month’s Japanese Grand Prix.

He competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One for Red Bull Racing.

Recent 2025 F1 Grand Prix Winner

• Australian Grand Prix – McLaren’s Lando Norris (Britain)
• Chinese Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia)
• Japanese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Bahrain Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia)
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia)
• Miami Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia)

Exp. 17 May – World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day is observed on 17th May every year to spread awareness about high blood pressure and encourage early detection and management.

Theme 2025 – Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer

This year marks the 20th anniversary of this observance, under the compelling theme, Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.

World Hypertension Day was started in 2005 by the World Hypertension League (WHL), a non-governmental organisation focused on fighting high blood pressure worldwide.

Exp. 20 May – World Bee Day

World Bee Day is observed every year on 20th May to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem and food security.

Theme 2025 -Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all

The date marks the birth anniversary of Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeper who is considered a pioneer of modern beekeeping. The day emphasizes the crucial role bees play in pollination, biodiversity, and agriculture.

Exp. Govt launches revamped OCI Portal for improved user experience

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a new OCI Portal in New Delhi to enhance the experience for over 5 million Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, offering improved security, functionality, and user-friendliness.

The revamped portal simplifies the registration process, updates the user interface, and ensures smoother immigration services for Indian-origin citizens visiting or residing in India.

The previous OCI portal, developed in 2013, was operational in 180+ Indian missions and 12 FRROs, handling nearly 2,000 applications daily. The new version addresses past limitations using current technology and user feedback.

Exp. Honduras Opens Embassy in New Delhi

The Republic of Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in New Delhi, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina García leading the ceremony.

The opening of the embassy marks a significant milestone in India-Honduras bilateral relations, aimed at boosting trade, development cooperation, and strategic collaboration.

The new diplomatic mission is expected to strengthen political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two countries, expanding India’s outreach in Central America.

About Republic of Honduras

• Capital- Tegucigalpa
• Currency- Honduran Lempira
• President- Xiomara Castro
• Continent- North America
• Official language- Spanish