1. Assembly Election Results 2026: Counting of Votes Begins
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced the counting of votes for the Assembly Elections held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry today, May 4, 2026. The counting process began at 8:00 AM IST under stringent security measures and high-tech surveillance to ensure transparency.
- West Bengal: Following a high-decibel campaign, counting is underway for 293 seats (one seat, Falta, is scheduled for repolling on May 21).
- Kerala: The state recorded a tentative voter turnout of 79.7%, a significant figure that includes service voters' postal ballots.
- Assam & Tamil Nadu: Trends are expected to emerge by midday, determining whether the incumbent governments retain power or the opposition makes a comeback.
- ECI Standards: The Commission has reiterated its commitment to the "highest standards of transparency, security, and efficiency" during the counting process.
2. IMD Issues 'Orange Alert' for Northeast and Eastern India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe weather warning across several states. An "Orange Alert" is in effect from May 3 to May 8, 2026, for Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Nagaland. The region is expected to witness sustained heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and wind gusts of up to 70 km/h. Authorities have warned of potential landslides in hill districts and disruptions to flight and rail services, particularly in the New Jalpaiguri–Guwahati corridor.
3. Space Tech: GalaxEye Launches 'Mission Drishti'
In a landmark achievement for the Indian private space sector, the start-up GalaxEye successfully launched Mission Drishti. This is the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, which combines optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors. The 190-kg satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is the largest Earth observation satellite ever built by a private Indian entity, marking a new era in high-resolution, all-weather imaging capabilities.
4. Supreme Court to Hear Aadhaar PIL
The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, is scheduled to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) today. The plea seeks to direct the UIDAI to implement stricter guidelines for issuing Aadhaar cards to adolescents and adults. The petitioner argues that stringent verification is necessary to prevent "infiltrators" from obtaining Indian identity documents.
5. Other Key Highlights:
- North Tech Symposium: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate the symposium in Prayagraj today, focusing on the theme "Raksha Triveni Sangam" to bridge technology, industry, and soldiering.
- Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador-designate to China, Vikram Doraiswami, has arrived in Beijing to assume his role amid ongoing regional diplomatic shifts.
- Economy: SEBI’s PaRRVA system (Platform for Real-time Risk and Vulnerability Analysis) officially goes live today after a successful pilot phase.