Vijay wins trust vote, secures chief minister post
Actor-turned-politician Vijay won a dramatic floor test on May 13 with support from 144 MLAs, officially confirming him as Tamil Nadu’s new chief minister.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder broke the DMK-AIADMK dominance by winning 108 seats in last month’s election. Support from Congress and smaller allies helped him cross the majority mark after intense negotiations.
Astrologer’s appointment revoked after backlash
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay revoked the appointment of astrologer and close aide Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty, a day after allies and opposition parties criticised the move.
The government issued a circular cancelling the appointment following objections that personal beliefs should not influence governance. Mr Vettrivel had also served as a spokesperson for Vijay’s party.
Suvendu keeps Bhabanipur seat, quits Nandigram
Mr Suvendu Adhikari has decided to retain the Bhabanipur assembly seat while vacating Nandigram after winning both constituencies in the recent West Bengal elections.
The chief minister’s Bhabanipur victory over Ms Mamata Banerjee was seen as one of the election’s biggest political upsets. Legislative rules prevent MLAs from holding two seats simultaneously.
33 killed in storms and heavy rain across Uttar Pradesh
At least 33 people died after powerful storms and heavy rain battered several districts of Uttar Pradesh on May 13. The worst-hit areas included Bhadohi, Fatehpur, and Budaun.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to complete compensation and relief work within 24 hours. Rescue efforts were hampered in some districts due to uprooted trees, damaged power lines and disrupted mobile networks.
Central govt rules out mandatory work-from-home policy
Government sources clarified that there is no proposal to mandate work-from-home despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging citizens to reduce fuel consumption.
Officials told NDTV Mr Modi’s remarks were being wrongly interpreted as austerity measures.
The Central government stressed that infrastructure spending and welfare schemes would continue, while encouraging responsible resource use amid global uncertainty and volatile crude oil prices.
VIP convoys shrink after PM Modi’s fuel-saving appeal
Several political leaders across India have begun reducing convoy sizes and cutting fuel consumption following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for prudent energy use.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders have downsized official travel arrangements, while Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat announced he would increasingly use public transport for travel within the state.
Supreme Court plea seeks fresh NEET exam under supervision
A petition filed in the Supreme Court has sought a court-monitored re-test for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test -- Undergraduate (NEET-UG) after the 2026 exam was cancelled over alleged paper leaks.
The petition also demanded replacing the National Testing Agency with a more autonomous and technologically advanced body.
The case, now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, has intensified concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations in India.
Three church leaders killed In Manipur ambush
Three church leaders were killed and four others injured after armed attackers ambushed two vehicles in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on May 13.
The victims were members of the Thadou Baptist Association returning from a conference in Churachandpur.
Authorities said the attack has triggered fresh tensions in the violence-hit state, with community organisations strongly condemning the killings and demanding swift action against the perpetrators.
Gold, silver futures surge after import duty raised
Indian gold and silver futures jumped sharply after the government increased import tariffs on precious metals from 6 per cent to 15 per cent.
Gold futures rose over 7 per cent while silver surged 8 per cent in early trade on May 13.
The move is aimed at reducing imports and easing pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves amid global economic uncertainty and rising overseas purchases.
Sugar exports banned till September 2026
India has banned exports of raw, white and refined sugar until Sept 30 amid concerns over domestic supply and inflation. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade shifted sugar exports from “restricted” to “prohibited” status with immediate effect.
The decision comes despite earlier expectations of surplus production, as authorities seek to protect domestic availability during ongoing uncertainty linked to Middle East tensions.
Air India cuts international flights amid Middle East crisis
Air India will temporarily reduce flights on several international routes between June and August due to airspace restrictions and soaring jet fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
The airline said longer rerouting and operational disruptions have significantly increased costs.
The carrier, partly owned by Singapore Airlines, is also dealing with the impact of Pakistan’s continued airspace ban.
Mumbai ‘watermelon deaths’ mystery deepens
Mumbai police are still investigating the mysterious deaths of four members of the Dokadia family, dubbed the “watermelon deaths” by local media.
Forensic tests found zinc phosphide poison in the victims’ organs and remnants of watermelon consumed before their deaths.
However, investigators say it remains unclear whether the poisoning was accidental, homicidal or suicide-related, with multiple angles still under examination.
Autopsy reveals lung clot killed Prateek Yadav
An autopsy report has revealed that Mr Prateek Yadav, the son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, died due to cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a massive pulmonary thromboembolism.
Doctors also found six ante-mortem injuries on his body, some several days old. The 38-year-old had reportedly been suffering from lung-related complications for a long time.
IT stocks hit three-year low over AI concerns
Indian IT shares fell to a three-year low after fresh concerns emerged over the impact of artificial intelligence on traditional outsourcing businesses.
The decline followed OpenAI’s announcement of a new enterprise-focused AI venture.
Major firms, including Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, fell sharply as analysts warned AI spending could reduce demand for conventional IT services.
