Business & Economy
GST FY25 β Maharashtra #1, Gujarat #2, Karnataka #3; βΉ21.36 Lakh Crore National Total
GST FY25 State Rankings: Maharashtra βΉ3,18,497 crore (#1); Gujarat βΉ1,74,938 crore (#2); Karnataka βΉ1,43,023 crore (#3). National total: βΉ21.36 lakh crore β highest since GST launch (2017); +8.86% YoY. April 2025: βΉ2,36,716 crore (+12.6%). GST Council: Chair Nirmala Sitharaman; under Article 279-A; Est 2016.
Governance
IWAI Srinagar β NW-26 (Chenab), NW-49 (Jhelum), NW-84 (Ravi)
IWAI (Chairman Vijay Kumar; HQ Noida; Est 1986) opened its Srinagar office at Transport Bhawan (operational 13 May 2025) to develop NW-26 (Chenab), NW-49 (Jhelum), NW-84 (Ravi) in J&K. Based on MoU with J&K government (March 2025). Aims to develop river navigation infrastructure for trade, tourism, and connectivity in the Union Territory.
Business & Economy
SBI β 3rd Indian Company in Global Top 100 Most Profitable
SBI (net profit: USD 9.2 bn / βΉ77,561 crore, FY25; ranked 98th globally per Bloomberg) is the 3rd Indian company in the world’s top 100 most profitable β after ONGC (2009) and RIL (2021). Net profit: 31% CAGR over 5 years. SBI Chairman: Challa Sreenivasulu Setty; Est 1955. Global #1: Alphabet (USD 111 bn); #2: Saudi Aramco (USD 105 bn).
Environment
GRID 2025 β India’s 5.4 Million Displacements; 12-Year High; Global IDPs 83.4 Million
GRID 2025 (IDMC + NRC, 13 May 2025): India β 5.4 million displacements in 2024 (12-year high); floods: 66%; Assam alone: 2.5 million. Global: 83.4 million IDPs β record high, double since 2018; Sudan: 11.6 million (worst); disaster displacements globally: 45.8 million β highest since IDMC tracking began (2008). IDMC Director: Alexandra Bilak; HQ Geneva; Est 1998.
Culture & Heritage
Ethnologue 2025 β Hindi 3rd (609.1 mn); 5 Indian Languages in Global Top 20
Ethnologue 2025 global language rankings: English 1st (1.53 bn, 188 countries); Mandarin 2nd (1.18 bn); Hindi 3rd (609.1 mn); Spanish 4th (558.5 mn). Five Indian languages in global top 20: Hindi (3rd), Bengali (7th), Urdu (11th), Marathi (16th), Telugu (18th).
Business & Economy
JSW One Platforms β India’s New Unicorn; USD 1 Billion Valuation; B2B E-Commerce
JSW One Platforms (B2B e-commerce arm, JSW Group) raised USD 40 mn (~βΉ340 crore) β led by Principal Asset Management, OneUp, JSW Steel β reaching USD 1 billion valuation (unicorn, 13 May 2025). 3Γ valuation jump since April 2023 (Mitsui & Co. invested βΉ205 crore). Focus: steel & cement supply chain, logistics, fintech/NBFC, MSME credit. JSW Group: CMD Sajjan Jindal; Founded 1982.
Governance
Assam’s ‘Eti Koli Duti Paat’ β βΉ5,000 for Tea Workers; 200 Years of Assam Tea
Assam Cabinet (CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) approved ‘Eti Koli Duti Paat’ β βΉ5,000 one-time assistance to each permanent and temporary tea garden worker, marking 200 years of Assam Tea. Also approved: Dibrugarh Airport renamed after Bhupen Hazarika (100th birth anniversary), Assam Electronics Components Manufacturing Top-Up Scheme 2025, and ‘Jibon Prerna Scheme’ for graduates (from Oct 2025).
Governance
Indore β India’s First Beggar-Free City; MoSJE Model; Feb 2024 Campaign
Indore (MP) became India’s first beggar-free city after an anti-begging campaign launched in February 2024. Previously: 5,000 beggars (500 children) β all rehabilitated (adults employed, children in school). Recognised by MoSJE and World Bank as a model project. Part of MSJE’s 10-city pilot. Citizens received βΉ1,000 reward for reporting beggars.
Education
Illinois Tech β First American University with UGC Approval for India Campus
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago, became the first American university to receive UGC approval for an independent degree-granting campus in India (Mumbai; opens 2026). Offers UG & PG in CS, Engineering, Business β same Chicago curriculum including signature ‘Elevate’ programme (research, internships, career acceleration for all students).
International
JosΓ© Mujica β 40th President of Uruguay; ‘World’s Poorest President’; d. 13 May 2025
JosΓ© ‘Pepe’ Mujica (b. 20 May 1935; d. 13 May 2025, age 89) β 40th President of Uruguay (2010β2015). Known as the ‘world’s poorest president’ for donating 90% of salary to charity. Reforms: legalised abortion, same-sex marriage, marijuana sales. Ex-Tupamaros guerrilla; imprisoned 14 years under military dictatorship. Awards: Order of the Aztec Eagle (2014). Uruguay: President Yamandu Orsi; Capital Montevideo.