• Leadership Transition: The meeting marked a transfer of leadership. Professor Anwar Sanusi of Indonesia assumed the office of APO Chair for the year 2026-27. He succeeded India's DPIIT Secretary, Amardeep Singh Bhatia (India held the APO Chairmanship for the 2025-26 tenure).
• Main Agenda: The meeting featured comprehensive discussions on the APO Vision 2030 framework, budget proposals for 2027-28, and governance reforms. Additionally, emphasis was placed on the GAIA (Genuine AI Action) initiative aimed at enhancing AI-driven productivity.
• Participation: The event saw the participation of over 60 senior representatives from 20 APO member countries, as well as observers from non-member nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Bhutan.

Asian Productivity Organization (APO):

• Establishment: 1961, as a non-political, non-profit, and inter-governmental organization.
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan.
• Membership: Currently comprises 21 member countries (economies).
• Founding Member: India is a founding member. (Other founding countries: Japan, Republic of China/Taiwan, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand).
• National Productivity Council (NPC):
• Nature: It is an autonomous organization under the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Establishment: 1958.

• It is the world's largest public healthcare scheme.
• Objective: To provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per annum to every eligible family.
• Launch Date: September 23, 2018.
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Implementation Mechanism:

• National Level: The National Health Authority (NHA) serves as the apex body.
• State Level: State Health Agencies (SHAs) are responsible for its implementation.

• Total Budgetary Allocation: For the financial year 2026-27, a total of ₹3,505.59 crore has been allocated to West Bengal under the NHM, out of which ₹527.58 crore has been released as the first installment.

National Health Mission (NHM):

• Inception and Sub-Missions: It was launched in 2013. It comprises two sub-missions: the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) (launched in 2005) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) (launched in 2013).
• Core Objectives: To reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), and Total Fertility Rate (TFR); and to prevent infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• Financing Pattern: This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. For general states, the financial ratio between the Centre and the State is 60:40, whereas for the Northeastern and Himalayan states, it is 90:10.

• Duration: This delegation will be on a visit to Japan from May 24 to May 30, 2026.
• Objective: To foster a spirit of scientific inquiry among students and to provide them with an experience of Japan's advanced science and technology, as well as its rich cultural heritage.
• Participants: In addition to students from India, this delegation also includes students from Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.
• Organizer: This program has been administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) since 2014.
• India's Participation: India has been participating in this program since April 2016.
• To date, a total of 674 students and 96 supervisors from India have visited Japan under this program.

• Discovery Site: This discovery was made at the 'Dandewala Field,' located in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.
• Gas Formation: For the first time in this region, the presence of natural gas has been confirmed within the 'Sanu Formation,' situated at a relatively shallow depth.
• Depth and Flow Rate: This natural gas reservoir was discovered at a depth of approximately 950 meters below the surface. During testing, an average gas flow rate of 25,000 Standard Cubic Meters per Day (SCMD) was recorded from this well.
• Estimated Total Reserves: Based on preliminary geological and petrophysical assessments, the site is estimated to hold Gas-in-Place (GIP) resources of approximately 75 Million Standard Cubic Meters (MMSCM).

Oil India Limited:

• Established: February 18, 1959
• Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh (Registered Office is in Duliajan, Assam)
• Chairman and Managing Director (CMD): Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra
• Type: Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
• Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Scope of Operations: Exploration, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas
• India's second-largest state-owned oil and gas producer

• Official Name: SHE-MART (Self Help Entrepreneurs—Marketing Avenues for Rural Transformation). (Note: A similar scheme named 'C-MART' was previously being run by the Government of Chhattisgarh; inspired by its successful model, the Central Government has expanded it nationwide under the name 'SHE-MART' in the 2026 Budget.)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
• Implementation Platform: This initiative is being implemented under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Key Objectives:

• Market Access: To facilitate the reach of products manufactured by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Women Producer Organizations—from local markets to national markets.
• Shifting Traditional Mindsets: To transform rural women from being merely 'loan/micro-credit beneficiaries' into owners and operators of formal retail enterprises.
• 'Lakhpati Didi' Goal: To fulfill the national target of creating an additional 30 million 'Lakhpati Didis' (women with an annual income exceeding ₹1 lakh) across the country by the year 2029.

• This marked the 12th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the 30th season of top-tier Indian football.
• Winner: East Bengal FC (First ISL title – won a top-tier national league after 22 years)
• Runner-up: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Finished second based on goal difference after being tied on points)
• Format: Single-leg Round-robin
• Total Teams and Matches: 14 teams and a total of 91 matches

Major Individual Awards:

• Golden Boot (Most Goals): Youssef Ezzejjari – East Bengal FC
• Golden Ball (Best Player): Miguel Figueira – East Bengal FC
• Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Hrithik Tiwari – FC Goa

• Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra: For this novel, he was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992.
• The Room on the Roof: This was Ruskin Bond's debut novel, which he wrote at the age of 17. For this work, he received the 'John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize' in 1957.
• The Blue Umbrella: A National Award-winning film, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, has also been made based on this famous novel.
• Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He has also been conferred with the Padma Shri (1999) and the Padma Bhushan (2014) by the Government of India.

• Developer: The plant has been developed by private defence company NIBE Limited.
• Production Capacity: The facility will mainly manufacture 155 mm artillery shells with an annual production capacity of 5 lakh shells.
• Fully Indigenous: The entire production technology and raw materials used in this project are 100% indigenous. The plant was completed within just one year.
• Other Launches: From the same facility, the Defence Minister also flagged off the first batch of the indigenous long-range rocket system ‘Suryastra’ Universal Rocket Launcher.

‘Suryastra’ Universal Rocket Launcher :

• India’s first indigenous and “Universal Multi-Caliber” rocket launcher system.
• Developed by NIBE Limited in collaboration with Elbit Systems of Israel.
• Strike Range: The system can accurately hit enemy targets at distances ranging from 150 km to 300 km.
• Technology: Based on Israel’s renowned PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) technology.
• Mobility: Mounted on a highly mobile and rugged 6×6 Tatra Truck platform.
• Precision Targeting: Designed to destroy enemy command centres, radar installations, and logistics hubs.

• Capital: Moscow
• President: Vladimir Putin
• Currency: Ruble
• Continent: Europe and Asia
• Official Language: Russian
• Parliament: Federal Assembly
• National Animal: Brown Bear
• National Bird: Double-headed Eagle (Emblem)

• World's largest country by area
• Relations between India and Russia: Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership
• Famous River: Volga River
• Major Cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan
• Time Zones: 11 Time Zones
• Start of the Russia-Ukraine War: 2022

• Digital Specialist Agency of the Year: Leo India clinched this top title with 120 points and a record-breaking 24 medals (including a Grand Prix and Gold).
• Broadcaster of the Year: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) won this award for the fourth consecutive year, securing 15 medals (3 Gold, 6 Silver).
• Public Relations Specialist Agency of the Year: Tribes Communications claimed this title with a score of 50 points.
• Technology Specialist Agency of the Year: Leo India also secured the top spot in the technology-based advertising category.
• Dominance of AI and Data: This year, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies were included as distinct, independent categories. Wavemaker India won a Gold award for AI-based innovation for Birla Opus Paints.
• Digital and Influencer Marketing: The advertising industry is now prioritizing data-driven media ecosystems, influencer marketing, and mobile-first strategies over traditional print and TV advertisements.

• New National Record: Gurindervir Singh completed the final race in just 10.09 seconds. With this feat, he has become the first Indian to break the 10.10-second barrier and has emerged as the fastest sprinter in the history of Indian athletics.
• Rivalry and Record Exchange: The competition witnessed a fierce contest between Odisha's sprinter Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh. In the semi-finals, both athletes broke each other's records; however, in the final, Gurindervir clinched the gold medal by outpacing Animesh Kujur (10.20 seconds).
• Background: He hails from Punjab (Jalandhar) and currently serves as a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy; he is supported by the Reliance Foundation.