“The Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned 895 new pensions under the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme for patients suffering from severe kidney ailments undergoing dialysis, as well as those who have undergone kidney, liver and heart transplants,” Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) Kondapalli Srinivas said on Thursday (May 14, 2026).

The Minister stated that the decision was taken by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to ensure that poor and eligible patients suffering from chronic illnesses do not face hardship. Besides dialysis patients and organ transplant recipients, eligible poor persons suffering from chronic diseases, including filariasis and leprosy, have also been considered for pension support.

According to the Minister, the newly sanctioned pensions will place an additional financial burden of ₹86.34 lakh per month on the State government. However, the government has decided to extend support to vulnerable sections to ease their financial distress arising from long-term medical treatment and health care expenses.

The Minister further said that beneficiaries would receive pension amounts at their doorstep on the first day of every month through Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu staff, ensuring timely delivery of assistance without inconvenience to patients and their families.

GMR Aero Technic (GAT), one of India’s leading aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers located at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), has signed an agreement with Boeing Defence India Private Limited (BDIPL) to undertake Phase-56 Heavy Maintenance Checks for the Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft fleet operated by the Indian Navy.

The Boeing P‑8I is a long‑range maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, designed for anti‑submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It is a key asset for the Indian Navy, providing advanced capabilities to secure India’s maritime domain and ensure mission readiness.

The Indian Navy currently operates a fleet of 12 P‑8I aircraft, deployed across squadrons at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu and INS Hansa in Goa.

Under the agreement, GMR Aero Technic will carry out Phase-56 heavy maintenance checks for the Boeing P-8I aircraft at its MRO facility located within the GMR Aerospace Park Special Economic Zone in Hyderabad. The maintenance work will include structural upgrades, detailed inspections, painting, and system upgrades in accordance with Boeing and defence aviation maintenance standards.

“As our first major engagement supporting a frontline defence aircraft platform, it reflects strong confidence in the depth of our technical capabilities and the expertise of our highly qualified and skilled  workforce. This agreement reinforces our long‑term vision of building India into a global defence MRO hub and establishing GMR Aero Technic as a trusted provider of complex military aircraft sustainment solutions,” said Ashok Gopinath, president, GMR Aero Technic.

“This partnership builds on our long‑standing focus on developing indigenous aerospace and defence capability, and reinforces our investment in services, sustainment, manufacturing, Research and Development (R&D), and talent in India,” said Nikhil Joshi, managing director of Boeing Defence India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (May 14, 2026) said that an Indian-flagged commercial vessel had come under attack off the coast of Oman, but all its crew members are safe.

The MEA described the attack as “unacceptable”, but its statement did ‌not say ​who had carried out ⁠the attack which took place on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

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“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the statement said.

“All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” it added.

The MEA further said India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivasa Poojary on May 13 directed Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL) to commission the project providing piped natural gas (PNG) to households in Udupi district, in Karnataka, by June.

Chairing a review meeting on PNG for homes and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles at Rajatadri, the district office complex in Manipal, Mr. Poojary expressed displeasure over the abnormal delay in commissioning the PNG scheme in the district, which has been going on for the past one decade

The MP noted that while abut 35,000 households require PNG in urban local bodies’ limits in the district, the agency has completed pipeline only for about 1,500 houses. “Progress of work is highly insufficient,” he said. He instructed ATGL representatives to disseminate information about applying online for PNG connection through banners, pamphlets and social media.

CNG supply inadequate

Mr. Poojary expressed displeasure over the inadequate supply of CNG in the district and said vehicles, particularly autorickshaws and taxis, line up in front of CNG dispensing stations for hours together to get the fuel. He told officials to sanction four more jumbo vehicles and 10 CNG cascades to the district to bring CNG from Mangaluru.

Besides 11 functional CNG stations, he has written to the Union Petroleum Ministry to sanction one station each at Muniyal and Yermal.

Officials of Gail Gas Limited (GGL), which manages the Kochi-Mangaluru CNG pipeline and has a mother station in Mangaluru, informed that the mother station of ATGL at Panambur will be completed by May-end. After approval from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Mangaluru-Udupi line would be charged, paving the way for supply of piped natural gas to Udupi district.

Deputy Commissioner T. K. Swaroopa told ATGL officials to ensure deployment of adequate number of technicians at CNG stations to resolve complaints. There was a shortage of such personnel, she said.

Deputy Director Food and Civil Supplies Department Ravindra was among those who attended the meeting.

The Tamil Nadu government, under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, on Thursday (May 14, 2026) announced that it needed time to “restructure” the ’Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ programme. The monthly grant for women beneficiaries due for the month of May would be credited into their bank accounts soon, an official release stated.

During the election campaign, Mr. Vijay had announced that after his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was elected to power, it would, through the ‘Madhippumigu Magalir Thittam’, provide a sum of ₹2,500 as monthly assistance to “all women up to 60 years of age, who are heads of families.”

However, he had clarified that families with employees of Union and State governments would not be eligible for the grant. “By doing this, more number of women will get to benefit,” Mr. Vijay had announced during a party meeting in Mamallapuram in March this year. At present, the grant is ₹1,000 a month to beneficiaries, under the ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ programme launched by the erstwhile DMK government.

The programme was initiated to provide the monthly rights grant to women heads of families, intending to “recognise the hard work of women who work tirelessly throughout their lives for their families.”

Women beneficiaries who are above 21 years of age from families earning an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh are among those eligible to benefit from the programme. Only the woman head of the family per household (family card holders) is eligible to receive the grant.

Ten newly elected members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC), including six from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took oath on Thursday (May 14, 2026) at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai.

Legislative Council chairperson Ram Shinde administered the oath to the members at the Central Hall in the Vidhan Bhavan.

The newly elected members are Neelam Gorhe of the Shiv Sena, Omprakash alias Bachchu Kadu of Prahar Janshakti Party, Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena (UBT), Pragya Satav, Pramod Jathar, Madhavi Naik, Sunil Karjatkar, Vivek Kolhe and Sanjay Bhende, all from the BJP, and Zeeshan Siddique of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Of the 10 members, nine were elected unopposed earlier this month in the biennial elections, while Pragya Satav was elected in a byelection. She had resigned from the Upper House as a Congress MLC and joined the BJP.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar and other senior leaders were present during the swearing-in ceremony.

In the 78-member Upper House of the State legislature, there are currently 22 vacancies — 17 of the local self-government bodies’ seats and five Governor-nominated seats. The next round of biennial elections is scheduled in December this year for the graduates and teachers’ seats.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee arrived at the Calcutta High Court on Thursday (May 14, 2026) to “argue in a matter concerning the widespread post-poll violence unleashed” across the State in the wake of the Assembly election results.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen is hearing the PILs after the petition was filed on Tuesday (May 12, 2026). 

Ms. Banerjee was seen arriving at the court premises in a lawyer’s attire accompanied by senior Trinamool Congress leaders Chandrima Bhattacharya and Kalyan Banerjee.

The matter pertains to a public interest litigation filed by advocate Shirshanya Bandyopadhyay on behalf of the TMC, alleging attacks on party offices and violence against its workers, following the announcement of the poll results.

According to the petitioner, several TMC leaders and workers were allegedly forced to flee their homes after the polls, while many of them were attacked “because of their association with the Trinamool Congress”.

In a post on X, the TMC said: “Our Hon’ble Chairperson Smt @MamataOfficial personally reached the Calcutta High Court today to argue in a matter concerning the widespread post-poll violence unleashed across Bengal by @BJP4Bengal.” The former ruling party in West Bengal asserted that once again, Banerjee has shown what “truly sets her apart”.

“She NEVER abandons the people of Bengal in their hour of need. She NEVER stops fighting for truth, justice, and constitutional values. And time and again, she rises above the politics of hatred with unmatched COMPASSION, COURAGE and CONVICTION.

“Whether confronting the injustice of SIR or standing firm against the unruly conduct of @BJP4India, she continues to prove that there is truly NO LEADER LIKE HER in the country today,” the TMC said.

With inputs from PTI

The Hyderabad Traffic Police on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) announced traffic diversions and alternative routes in the Darussalam area in view of RCC box drain construction work scheduled to begin from May 13.

According to the police, the construction work will be carried out from SBI Bank, Darussalam to Chaknawadi Culvert and is expected to continue for a period of 45 days.

As part of the traffic arrangements, vehicles coming from Mallepally, Bhoiguda Kaman and Aghapura towards Alaska T junction will be diverted at Darussalam towards Ek Minar.

Similarly, traffic moving from Alaska junction towards Darussalam will be diverted at Calcutta Sweet House towards the Chaknawadi by-lanes.

The Hyderabad Traffic Police requested commuters to take alternative routes to avoid congestion and cooperate with traffic personnel during the construction period.

Citizens were also advised to follow traffic updates through the official social media handles of the Hyderabad Traffic Police and contact the traffic helpline number 9010203626 in case of travel emergencies.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) ordered the closure of 717 Tasmac shops functioning within 500 metres of educational institutions and places of worship across the State. Among all districts, Thoothukudi is set to witness the highest number of shop closures. The pearl city, which falls under Madurai region, will wind up 63 shops.

The Madurai belt alone will account for the closure of 281 Tasmac outlets under the State-wide crackdown. Around 37 will close down in Virudhunagar and 33 in Tirunelveli.

Madurai South will see 32 closures, while Ramanathapuram will shut 29 shops and Dindigul, 26. Sivaganga and Kanniyakumari will each witness 18 closures, while Madurai North and Theni will see 13 and 12 shops shut, respectively.

Road safety risks

Employees working at Tasmac outlets in the Madurai region said the government must ensure adequate police deployment in these areas following the closures. They also pointed out that one of the major concerns is that people may now travel longer distances to consume alcohol and then drive back, posing serious road safety risks.

In Chennai region, 99 liquor outlets are marked for closure. Tiruvallur East accounts for the highest number of shutdowns at 29 shops, followed by Chennai North with 18 and Chennai Central with 15. Chennai South will see 14 closures, while Kancheepuram North and South will shut 12 and seven shops, respectively. Tiruvallur West has four outlets on the closure list.

The Coimbatore belt is set to witness the closure of 173 outlets. And of this, Coimbatore North accounts for the highest number of closures in the region with 48 shops, followed by Erode with 39 and Tirupur with 30. The Nilgiris will see 27 shops shut, while Coimbatore South has 21 outlets on the closure list. Karur will witness the least impact, with eight liquor shops set to close.

Around 80 outlets in the Salem region are set to close, with Salem and Tiruvannamalai topping the list at 20 shops each, followed by Namakkal with 14. Dharmapuri and Arakonam will see seven closures each, while Vellore and Krishnagiri have six shops each on the list.

A total of 84 Tasmac outlets will wind up in Tiruchi zone, with Cuddalore witnessing the highest number of closures at 21. Tiruchi and Pudukottai follow with 16 shops each, while Villupuram will see 11 closures. Thanjavur will close six shops. While Perambalur and Tiruvarur will close five each, Nagapattinam has four outlets on the closure list.

Impact on revenue

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, popularly known as Tasmac, makes ₹150 crore each day through sale of liquor across its outlets in the State. Experts believe the closure of these outlets may not significantly impact overall revenues, as the estimated daily loss is around ₹23 crore and consumers are likely to shift to nearby Tasmac shops, helping offset much of the revenue dip. They also pointed out that there more such shops near schools and religious establishments, which the government has to close.