Senior IAS Officer Saurabh Vijay Takes Charge as New UIDAI CEO Senior IAS officer Saurabh Vijay officially assumed charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on May 18, 2026. UIDAI manages India's Aadhaar ecosystem, the world's largest biometric-based digital identity system.
Key Highlights
- Saurabh Vijay belongs to the 1998 batch Maharashtra cadre.
- He is a Civil Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi.
- He has vast experience in finance, planning, tourism, medical education and public administration.
- Previously served as:
- Principal Secretary (Expenditure), Finance Department
- Principal Secretary, Planning and Development
- Principal Secretary, Tourism Department
- Secretary, Medical Education
- Secretary, Higher and Technical Education
International Experience
- Served as Director in the President's Secretariat.
- Worked as Advisor at the World Bank in Washington DC.
About UIDAI
- Established under the Aadhaar Act 2016.
- Functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Responsible for issuing Aadhaar and enabling secure digital identity verification.
₹175 Crore "Coffees of Nagaland" Mission Launched
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the ambitious "Coffees of Nagaland" Mission with an investment of ₹175 crore to transform Nagaland into a global specialty coffee hub.
Objectives of the Mission
- Develop a complete coffee value-chain ecosystem.
- Promote processing, branding, exports and tourism.
- Increase farmers' income through premium coffee marketing.
Pilot Coffee Clusters
- Tuophema village in Kohima district for Arabica coffee.
- Ghotovi village in Niuland district for Robusta coffee.
Key Focus Areas
- Branding Nagaland coffee globally.
- Export promotion and international marketing.
- Skill development and infrastructure support for farmers.
Kami Rita Sherpa and Lakpa Sherpa Create New Everest Records
Nepalese mountaineers Kami Rita Sherpa and Lakpa Sherpa once again created history by scaling Mount Everest and breaking their own records.
Kami Rita Sherpa
- Climbed Mount Everest for the 32nd time.
- Known globally as the "Everest Man".
- Started Everest expeditions in 1994.
Lakpa Sherpa
- Scaled Everest for the 11th time.
- Holds the record for the highest number of Everest summits by a woman.
- Featured in the internationally acclaimed documentary "Mountain Queen".
About Mount Everest
- Height: 8,849 metres
- Location: Nepal-China border
- Best climbing season: Spring
India and Norway Upgrade Ties to Green Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Norway marked a major diplomatic milestone as India and Norway elevated bilateral relations to a "Green Strategic Partnership".
Major Areas of Cooperation
- Clean Energy
- Climate Action
- Blue Economy
- Green Shipping
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Innovation
Key Developments
- Norway agreed to join the Indo-Pacific Initiative.
- ISRO and Norwegian space agencies signed cooperation agreements.
- Both nations pledged support for Global South development.
Importance
The partnership combines India's market and workforce strengths with Norway's advanced green technologies and maritime expertise.
PM Narendra Modi Receives Norway's Highest Civilian Honour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the "Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit", Norway's highest civilian honour.
Important Points
- Modi became one of the most internationally awarded political leaders.
- This is his 32nd international honour.
- The award recognizes contributions to strengthening international relations.
About the Award
- Established in 1985 by King Olav V.
- Conferred upon foreign nationals for exceptional service.
- "Grand Cross" is the highest category in the order.
WHO Declares Ebola a Global Health Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC).
Current Situation
- Over 300 suspected cases reported.
- 88 deaths recorded.
- Main outbreak detected in Ituri Province of Congo.
About Ebola
- Severe viral hemorrhagic fever.
- Spread through bodily fluids and infected animals.
- Not airborne like COVID-19.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Internal bleeding in severe cases
Treatment and Vaccines
- Monoclonal antibody treatments available.
- Vaccines include Ervebo, Zabdeno and Mvabea.
Amit Shah Chairs Central Zonal Council Meeting in Jagdalpur
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the Central Zonal Council meeting in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
Participating States
- Chhattisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Key Discussion Areas
- Inter-state coordination
- Internal security
- Border disputes
- Tribal welfare
- Infrastructure development
About Zonal Councils
- Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
- Promote cooperation among states.
- India has five Zonal Councils.
Daggubati Purandeswari Appointed Chairperson of Women Empowerment Committee
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the Committee on Empowerment of Women and appointed BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari as its Chairperson.
Committee Composition
- 18 Lok Sabha MPs
- 10 Rajya Sabha MPs
Important Members
- Hema Malini
- Harsimrat Kaur Badal
- Sudha Murty
- P.T. Usha
- Swati Maliwal
Functions
- Review women welfare policies.
- Recommend legislative measures.
- Monitor women empowerment initiatives.
Squadron Leader Sanya Becomes First Woman Cat-A Flying Instructor in IAF
Squadron Leader Sanya created history by becoming the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to qualify as a Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI).
Significance
- Cat-A is the highest category in flying instruction.
- Recognizes exceptional teaching and flying skills.
- Marks a milestone for women in military aviation.
Recognition
- Honoured by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh.
Amit Shah Launches AI-Based Dial 112 Emergency Vehicles in Chhattisgarh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched advanced AI-powered Dial 112 emergency response vehicles in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Major Features
- AI-based location tracking.
- Faster emergency response.
- Improved policing and rescue operations.
Vehicles Deployed
- 400 Emergency Response Vehicles
- 33 Surveillance Vehicles
- 60 Highway Patrol Vehicles
About Dial 112
India's integrated emergency response system for:
- Police
- Fire Services
- Medical Emergencies
- Disaster Assistance
It functions similar to the 911 system in the United States.
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