6th MAY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Centre notifies new South Coast Railway Zone with HQ at Visakhapatnam

The Union Government has notified the creation of the South Coast Railway zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam, operational from June 1, 2026.

Formed by reorganizing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway, it includes Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and part of Waltair division.

This move aims to improve railway administration, enhance connectivity, and boost freight and passenger services in Andhra Pradesh

Divisions Under South Coast Railway (SCOR) Zone

The new railway zone will cover a major part of Andhra Pradesh, along with portions of Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

The following divisions will be included:

Vijayawada Division (from South Central Railway).

Guntur Division (from South Central Railway).

Part of Waltair Division Division under SCOR

The Indian Railways, a cornerstone of India's transportation infrastructure, is one of the world's largest railway networks. India has a total of 19 railway zones as of 2024.

The latest addition is the South Coast Railway Zone (SCOR), which is based in Visakhapatnam and was announced in 2019.

These zones are subdivided into divisions to facilitate effective management and operations of the Indian Railways network

2. Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR)

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) introduced Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR), marking a new chapter in how India invests in gold.

For decades, gold investing meant buying jewellery, coins, or bars. Then came digital formats like ETFs and digital gold. But, then, in Nov 2025, concerns with digital gold arose. Now, EGR brings the best of both worlds.

What is Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR)?

Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) is a exchanged-traded securities that represents ownership of physical gold stored in secure, SEBI-approved vaults. It was first launched by BSE in 2022, during Muhurat Trading in Diwali.

Instead of holding gold in physical form, investors can buy and sell EGRs on stock exchanges (just like shares), making gold investment in India more convenient and transparent.

Each EGR is backed by actual gold of standard purity, ensuring safety and trust. Investors also have the option to convert EGR into physical gold if needed.

How Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) Work?

(EGR) follow a simple three-step process: Creation → Trading → Conversion.

1. Creation of EGR

Initially, Physical gold is deposited in SEBI-approved vaults through accredited refineries or imports.

2. Trading on Stock Exchange

Once created, EGRs are then listed and traded on exchanges like the NSE and BSE. Investors can buy and sell EGRs like shares during market hours.

3. Conversion into Physical Gold

Investors can redeem their EGRs anytime by requesting delivery. This request is only valid for 3 days, which collapses, likewise

Key Features of Electronic Gold Receipts

3. The One District One Cuisine (ODOC) Scheme

The One District One Cuisine (ODOC) scheme, launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in2026, identifies and promotes 208 signature dishes across 75 districts to boost local culinary heritage, branding, and exports.

Modeled after the "One District One Product" (ODOP) initiative, it offers up to 25% subsidy (maximum ₹20 lakh) to food entrepreneurs to upgrade quality and packaging.Key Features of the ODOC Scheme

Goal:

To bring local delicacies like Agra's Petha, Mathura's Peda, and Kanpur's Makhan Malai to global and national markets, enhancing their brand value.Support

The government offers financial assistance for setting up new units, packaging improvement, and training for artisans/halwais.Implementation

A state-level food conclave is planned to showcase these specialties, with committees led by District Magistrates selecting the dishes.

Budget: A budgetary outlay of ₹150 crore has been earmarked for the scheme's implementation.

Key Regional Cuisines Identified:

Agra: Petha, Dalmoth, Gajak

Lucknow: Revdi, Chaat, Malai Makkhan, Mango products

Mathura: Peda, Makhan Mishri, Rabri

Varanasi: Thandai, Lassi, Banarsi Paan, Tiranga Barfi

Gorakhpur: Litti-Chokha, Garlic Chhole Samosa, Barfi

Kanpur: Makhan Malai, Special Samosa, Mewi Laddo

Jaunpur: Imarti

4.Pulitzer Prize 2026

The Pulitzer Prizes are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters".

They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher

Two Indian journalists have won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for an art reporting project exposing cybercrime in India.

Anand RK and Suparna Sharma, along with Natalie Obiko Pearson, were announced as the winners in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category for the report they produced for Bloomberg.



The work, featured in Bloomberg, detailed a Lucknow-based neurologist targeted by a "digital arrest," mapping the intersection of technology, coercion, and crime

Aniruddha Ghosal, a Hanoi-based reporter, was a winner in the International Reporting category for an investigation into the US Border Patrol’s secret use of mass-surveillance tools originally created in Silicon Valley and further developed in China.

The series also exposed its use by China and other countries. The Pulitzer Prizes, highest journalism awards in the US, are administered by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism

5. UDGAM Portal

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently told the Supreme Court that 30 banks have been integrated into its centralised web portal, UDGAM, to enable legal heirs to trace funds belonging to deceased account holders.

What is UDGAM portal ?

UDGAM refers to Unclaimed Deposits-Gateway to Access inforMation, which is an online portal developed by RBI

It facilitates the registered users to search unclaimed deposits/accounts across multiple banks at one place in a centralised manner.

Are all banks part of the UDGAM portal? What percentage of the unclaimed deposits they represent?

No. As on March 4, 2024, there are 30 banks, which are part of UDGAM portal, and they cover around 90% of unclaimed deposits (in value terms) in Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund of RBI.