The world's largest ground-based telescope developed by pune based IT firm ThoughtWorks which will become operational in Hawaii in the mid-2020.

The government of India has formed a 13-member committee having representatives from GST Network (GSTN), central and state governments to examine the electronic tax invoice system of various countries like South Korea, Latin America and suggest a model for India. The introduction of electronic invoices (e-invoices) through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal which will help the indirect tax system and keep a check on tax evasion. For the e-invoices system, the committee will examine and suggest the target taxpayers and the threshold limit. The committee will look at a centralized system of e-invoices, which will give automatic access to authorities to invoices. It will also discuss whether a system of e-invoices would help in dispensing the requirement of e-way bill or modification of the e-way bill or even combine both the options of e-invoice and e-way bill. The e-invoice system will replace the requirement of the generation of e-way bill for movement of goods. At present, the e-way bill is required for moving goods exceeding Rs. 50,000.

KVS Manian and Gaurang Shah appointed as Kotak Mahindra Bank's whole-time directors for a three-year term effective from the date of approval from the Reserve Bank of India. He is currently working as the president - corporate, an investment bank and Gaurang Shah is the president- group chief risk officer of the bank.

The National Institute of Open Schooling under the Ministry of Human Resources Development on May 7, 2019 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maharashtra state government's National Health Mission of Public Health Department. The agreement aims to provide vocational programmes to the health service providers of the providers of the National Health Mission (NHM) through National Institute of Open Schooling. The key objective is to impart uniform structured and quality training to multipurpose health workers class lll, male health workers and community health workers followed by their assessment, evaluation and certification. The MoU will also enable certification of Secondary, Senior Secondary Vocational Education and Community Health Workers for ASHAs.

Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon passed away at the age of 90. He was admitted to a hospital in Raipur after he suffered cardiac arrest.

A Japanese aerospace start-up Interstellar Technology Inc. has successfully launched a first privately developed rocket 'Momo-3' into space. The unmanned Momo-3 was launched from its test site in Hokkaido and reached about 110 kilometers (68 miles) in altitude before falling into the Pacific Ocean after 10 minutes of flight time. It was the company's third launch attempt after previous tries failed in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, the operator lost contact with Momo-1 shortly after launch. In 2018, Momo-2 only made it some 20 meters off the ground before crashing and bursting into flames due to a problem with a control system.

'Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019' passed by Gujarat Assembly which came into force from May 1, 2019. The Act will allow the shops and other businesses in the state to operate 24x7. The Act was passed by Gujarat Assembly earlier in February 2019. The Act replaced the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 which prevented shops and other businesses from operating between 12 to 6 a.m. Now shops and other commercial entities which employ more than 10 workers will have to get registered one-time only with no need for renewal and if they employ less than 10 workers then there will be no need of registration. Under this new act, workers will get twice the regular salary for working. Previously, it was one-and-a-half-time.

An agreement was signed between Israel Aerospace Industries, Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard for providing Naval Medium Range Surface to air missile systems to India. The agreement worth of $93 million for provision of Naval Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) systems. As per the contract Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide complementary systems for the air defense system. Indian Navy and IAI held an interception test abroad INS Chennai, which assessed for the first time potential collaboration between ship. IAI will provide complementary systems for the air defense system (ADS) and also involve follow up orders for a range of maintenance and other services for various sub systems of IAI's advanced MRSAM ADS.

President Ram Nath Kovind has been conferred with the highest State honor of Bolivia, "Condor de Los Andes en el Grado de Gran Collar" during his visit to Bolivia. President of Bolivia Evo Morales awarded him the Honour at a function held in Santa Cruz. On the second day of President's three-day visit to Bolivia, India and Bolivia signed eight MoUs in the fields of culture, Visa waiver arrangement for diplomats, exchange between diplomatic academies, mining, space, traditional medicine, establishment of Centre of Excellence in IT and Bi-Oceanic Railway project. India offered a 100 million US Dollar Line of Credit to Bolivia for financing development projects. Both countries also agreed on the need for reform of the UN Security Council to make it reflective of contemporary realities. President is in Bolivia on the 2nd leg of his 3 nation tour. He is on a three-nation visit to Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile.

The National Civil Services Day (NCSD) is organized every year on April 21 in India by civil servants to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in work. This date is chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers on April 21, 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi. He referred to civil servants as the 'steel frame of India.