1.In a major decision, the government Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the next census exercise in a “transparent” manner and slammed the Opposition parties for using caste survey as a “political tool”.

2.India Wednesday closed its airspace for flights operated by Pakistan airlines in a fresh retaliatory move amid escalating tensions with the neighbouring country following the Pahalgam terror attack.

3.Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday disbursed `1,025 crore for 51 lakh farmers under the CM-KISAN Assistance Scheme during ‘Krushak Dibas’ held on the occasion of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ .

4.The construction of the three chariots for the annual Rath Yatra and the 21-day Chandan Yatra began on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya here Wednesday.

5.Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday laid the foundation stone for a project worth Rs7 crore for development and beautification of poet Jayadev’s birthplace at Kendubilwa village in Khurda district.

6.The Odisha government announced an investment of nearly Rs9,200 crore to upgrade healthcare infrastructure by redeveloping four major medical institutions, officials said Wednesday.

7.In India, youths and older adults are flourishing more those middle-aged, a study of over 2 lakh people across 22 countries has suggested.

8. At least four persons from Jagatsinghpur district were among the 14 killed in the devastating fi re at a hotel in central Kolkata, family sources claimed.

9.Mahant Prem Das Wednesday became the fi rst head priest of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi in over 300 years to step outside the revered temple's premises as he led a procession to the Ram temple on Akshaya Tritiya festival.

10.Wedding-related businesses in Delhi are expected to surpass Rs 1,000 crore in one day as the national capital is witnessing around 21,000 marriages to coincide with Akshaya Tritiya -- an auspicious day in the Hindu calender.

11.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at Russia’s Victory Day parade May 9 that will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, official sources said Wednesday.

12.In a resounding testament to the extensive work done by The Art of Living at the grassroots in border villages, in skill-based rehabilitation of jail inmates, and holistic transformation of schools, the organization has been awarded Best NGO of the Year - 2025 at the prestigious Global CSR & ESG Awards organized by Brand Honchos and Indian CSR Awards in New Delhi.

13.The Union government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing former RAW chief Alok Joshi as its new head, along with six other members.

14.Twenty-one Manipur MLAs have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah separately, urging them to form a “popular government” in the northeastern state, which is now under the President’s rule, to ensure peace and normalcy.

15.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day to be held in Moscow next month.