1. R. Ashwin Joins U.S. Major League Cricket (MLC)

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has scripted history by becoming the first active Indian male cricketer to sign a contract with a team in the United States' Major League Cricket (MLC). He has joined the Texas Super Kings for the 2026 season.

• Exam-Centric Facts:
• The Breakthrough: Previously, the BCCI maintained a strict policy prohibiting active Indian players from participating in overseas T20 leagues. Ashwin’s move follows a special "Veteran Category" clearance for non-contracted senior players.
• The League: Major League Cricket (MLC) is the premier professional T20 cricket league in the United States, which received official List A status from the ICC in 2024.
• Strategic Growth: This move is seen as a major boost for the "Cricket in USA" initiative, especially following the successful co-hosting of the T20 World Cup by the US.
• Franchise Connection: The Texas Super Kings are co-owned by the owners of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), maintaining Ashwin's long-standing association with the brand.

2. Visit of Russian First Deputy PM Denis Manturov

Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov concluded a high-level official visit to India. The visit focused on expanding the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation.

• Exam-Centric Facts:
• Trade Target: The visit reinforced the bilateral goal of achieving $100 billion in trade by 2030, a target set during the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
• Key Discussions: Focused on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor to bypass traditional shipping bottlenecks.
• Payment Systems: Significant progress was made on the mutual acceptance of India’s RuPay and Russia’s MIR payment cards to facilitate smoother trade settlements in national currencies.
• Energy & Defense: Deliberations included the long-term supply of coking coal and the progress of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) Units 3–6.

3. S&P Global CSA Rankings: Yes Bank Leads Indian Banks

Yes Bank has secured the top position among all Indian banks in the 2025-26 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings. The bank achieved a record-high score, placing it in the top 5% of banks globally for sustainability practices.

• Exam-Centric Facts:
• The Ranking: S&P Global CSA is the world's most renowned annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (ESG - Environmental, Social, and Governance).
• ESG Focus: Yes Bank was recognized for its "Green Financing" initiatives, digital inclusion programs, and robust corporate governance framework.
• Significance: This is the first time a private Indian bank has consistently outperformed major global peers in the "Social" and "Governance" dimensions of the assessment.
• Investment Impact: High CSA scores often lead to inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), attracting global ESG-conscious institutional investors.

4. Launch of 'Nyaya Setu' AI Chatbot and 'Dishika' Mascot

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan officially unveiled the Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot and the animated mascot Dishika during the DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) program in New Delhi.

• Exam-Centric Facts:
• The Chatbot: Nyaya Setu is a multilingual, AI-powered platform designed to provide citizens with information on legal rights, procedures, and government welfare schemes.
• The Mascot: Dishika is the official mascot for the DISHA program, representing a personification of "Legal Awareness and Empowerment."
• DISHA Program: An umbrella scheme launched by the Department of Justice (Ministry of Law and Justice) to advance the "Access to Justice" mission. It integrates sub-schemes like Tele-Law and the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) program.
• Technology Partner: The AI interface was developed in collaboration with Bhashini to ensure it understands various Indian dialects and provides simplified legal advice in plain language.