Daily GK Update- 27th May, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rare Blueberry Species Rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh: Vaccinium piliferum, a rare wild relative of the blueberry, was rediscovered in the forests of Vijoynagar in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, after 188 years. The species was first collected in 1836 from the Mishmi Hills and was recorded again in 1850 from the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Vaccinium piliferum belongs to the genus Vaccinium and the family Ericaceae. It is a climbing shrub and is placed among wild relatives of blueberry plants, which are known for their edible berries and wide distribution in temperate and montane regions. William Griffith collected the plant in November 1836 from the Mishmi Hills. Joseph Dalton Hooker and T. Thomson recorded it again in 1850 from the Khasi Hills, and no confirmed record existed for 188 years before the 2026 rediscovery in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

2. Kerala Launches Project Zero Against Corruption: Kerala launched Project Zero on 26 May 2026 as an anti-corruption initiative for state administration. The programme covers bribery, cyber crimes, vigilance procedures, and complaint handling through the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Project Zero is a state-level drive that targets corruption at all administrative levels in Kerala. It includes public participation, stronger vigilance measures, and the use of technology in corruption cases. Project Zero also seeks to update the Vigilance Manual, which is the procedural handbook used in vigilance-related administration and investigation. The initiative asks citizens to report corruption directly to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The framework provides confidentiality for whistleblowers and complainants in corruption-related complaints. The programme covers both physical bribery and digital graft, which refers to corruption carried out through electronic systems, online platforms, or digital transactions.

 

3. Hari Babu Kambhampati Takes Oath as Odisha Governor: Hari Babu Kambhampati was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Odisha on 3 January 2025 at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh of the Orissa High Court administered the oath of office, and Kambhampati succeeded Raghubar Das after his resignation. The Governor is the constitutional head of a state under Article 153 of the Constitution of India. The Governor is appointed by the President of India under Article 155 and holds office during the pleasure of the President under Article 156. Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar is the official residence of the Governor of Odisha. The Governor of Odisha is the constitutional head of the state, while the Chief Minister heads the elected Council of Ministers.

 

4. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Inaugurate IBCA Pre-Summit in Bhopal,MP: In May 2026, Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change (MoEFCC) and Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister(CM) of  Madhya Pradesh (MP), inaugurated the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Pre-Summit at Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal, MP on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity(May 22). The MP Forest Department, with support from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO), flagged off 20 motorcycles and a rescue truck to promote awareness about biodiversity conservation. MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav announced the establishment of Wildlife Rescue Centres near all Tiger Reserves (TRs) in MP to provide timely treatment for injured animals and reduce the need for long-distance transport to Bhopal.

 

5. Govt Expands GATC Framework to Include 5 types of fuel dispensers verification: In May 2026, The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) has amended the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre(GATC)) Rules, 2013 to strengthen India’s legal metrology system and expand the national infrastructure for verification of weights and measures. Under the amended rules, GATCs are now authorised to verify five additional fuel dispensing systems, including Petrol/Diesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Hydrogen.

This Amendment expands the scope of GATCs to include verification and re-verification of additional fuel dispensing systems, increasing coverage from 18 to 23 categories of weights and measures under the Legal Metrology framework.

 

6. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Launches Series of SIDBI Initiatives on its 37th Foundation Day in Mumbai: In May 2026, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF), launched a set of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)-backed strategic web portals and initiatives on the occasion of its 37th foundation day celebrations held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is designed to operationalise collaborations between SIDBI and  Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to enhance MSME credit flow in semi-urban and rural areas of the country. Modernization of Rural Enterprises (MoRE) Programme is an initiative designed to support 10,000 rural micro and artisan units through cluster-based interventions over the next 3 years.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Scientists Detect 10-Billion-Year-Old Radio Signal: Scientists have detected a fast radio burst named FRB 20240304B that travelled about 10 billion years before reaching Earth. The signal was first detected on 4 March 2024 by the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa. Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to identify its host galaxy as a small, clumpy, low-mass, star-forming dwarf galaxy. Fast radio bursts are brief and intense pulses of radio waves from distant astronomical sources. FRBs are measured by their dispersion measure, redshift, and localisation to a host galaxy. Localised FRBs help astronomers study the intergalactic medium, galaxy evolution, and compact objects such as magnetars.

 

2. PM Modi Holds Talks on Indo-Pacific Cooperation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in New Delhi on 26 May 2026. The discussions covered Indo-Pacific cooperation, maritime security, supply chain resilience, and economic connectivity. The Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical and maritime region that links the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. India uses the term in its foreign policy for cooperation on security, trade, connectivity, and freedom of navigation. The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was established in 2020. It covers defence cooperation, trade, technology, education, and critical supply chains.

India and Australia are members of the Quad grouping along with Japan and the United States.

 

3. AYUSHEXCIL – Spices Board MoU to Boost Global Promotion of Ayush Products & Medicinal Spices: In May 2026, the Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) and the Spices Board of India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India’s traditional wellness and natural products sector. The MoU was signed in New Delhi, Delhi, by Anurag Sharma, Chairman of AYUSHEXCIL, and M. S. Manivannan, Secretary of the Spices Board of India in the presence of Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Prataprao Jadhav, Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) and MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). This partnership centers on export promotion, quality assurance, innovation, branding, international market development, and global promotion of Ayush, medicinal spice, nutraceutical, and Ayurvedic products.

 

4. Google Announces ‘GES’ Free AI Training Programme for School Teachers Across Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab & Other Regions: In May 2026, American tech giant Google announced the ‘Google for Education Schoolers (GES)’, free Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for school teachers across Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab, and other regions of India, at the Education World Forum 2026 held in London, the United Kingdom (UK). The new digital initiative is designed to provide free, mobile-1st AI training for school and higher education teachers on the responsible use of AI tools such as Gemini in classrooms and academic settings. For the initial phase, the initiative will be implemented in partnership with the governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Assam, along with the Union Territory (UT) Ladakh and the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

 

5. Overview of Cyprus President Christodoulides’s Visit to India on May 20-23, 2026: President of  the Republic of Cyprus undertook a 4-day official visit to India from May 20 to May 23, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. This marked the Cyprus President’s 1st official visit to India in his current capacity. During his visit to New Delhi, he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, maritime and financial connectivity, technology, education, mobility, and India-European Union (EU) engagement. Cyprus made 08 major announcements to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries and these include: Elevation of Bilateral Relations to SP;5-Year Roadmap for Defence Cooperation (2026-31);Celebration of India-Cyprus Space Day (on 18 May 2026) and others.

 

6. WHO’s 79th World Health Assembly Concludes in Geneva, Switzerland : The World Health Organization (WHO) organised the six-day 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in Geneva, Switzerland from 18–23 May 2026 under the theme “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility”. During the session, member states adopted over 20 decisions and 13 resolutions on issues including stroke, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emergency care, haemophilia, precision medicine, and radiation. Union Minister J. P. Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW), addressed the plenary session of the WHA79 , reaffirming India’s commitment to equitable and people-centric healthcare under the vision of “Health for All”.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Nibe Limited Successfully Tests Indigenous Loitering Munition ‘Vayu Astra-1’ with High Precision Strike Capability: Pune-based defence firm Nibe Limited successfully conducted no-cost, no-commitment trials of its indigenous loitering munition system “Vayu Astra-1” for the Indian Army at Pokhran (Rajasthan) and Joshimath (Uttarakhand) in April 2026. The anti-personnel variant of Vayu Astra-1, tested at the Pokhran Range on April 18–19, carried a 10-kg warhead and successfully hit its target at a 100 km range in a single attempt. The system demonstrated high precision with less than 1 metre Circular Error Probable (CEP), along with advanced features like abort attack and reattack capability during the trial.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli Wins Canadian Grand Prix 2026: On 24th May 2026, 19-year-old Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the 64th edition of the Canadian Grand Prix (GP), officially known as Formula One (F1) Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada 2026 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, securing his fourth consecutive F1 GP victory after earlier wins in China GP, Japan GP, and Miami GP. The podium at Canadian GP was completed by Lewis Hamilton of the United Kingdom (UK), driving for Ferrari, in second place, and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, representing Red Bull Racing, in third place. The 2026 Canadian GP was Round 5 of the 22-race International Automobile Federation or  Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile( FIA) F1 World Championship organised by FIA over 68 laps and featured the sprint format for the first time as the third of six sprint-format events in 2026.

 

2. Davis Cup Skipper Rohit Rajpal Named India’s Chef de Mission for 2026 CWG in Glasgow: In May 2026, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officially announced  the appointment of former India’s Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal as the country’s Chef de Mission for the 23rd edition of Commonwealth Games (2026 CWG) which is scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 2, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. IOA has also appointed former boxer and CWG gold medallist Mangte Chungneijang  (M.C.) Mary Kom, former hockey captain Kamalpreet Kaur, former athlete Sunaina Kumari  and former weightlifter Rajlaxmi Singh Deo as special guests attached to the Indian delegation.

 

3. Swara Lakshmi Nair Becomes Karnataka’s Second WIM in Chess : In May 2026, a 19-year-old chess player from Bengaluru, Karnataka, Swara Lakshmi Nair, achieved the Woman International Master (WIM) title after a draw against IM Krumpacnik Domen (Slovenia) in the 9th round of the Ptuj International Masters tournament in Slovenia, becoming Karnataka’s second WIM (after Isha Sharma in 2019) and the first from Bengaluru (Karnataka). With a current live rating of 2219 Elo points, she aims to achieve the Grandmaster (GM) title by crossing 2400 Elo rating mark, building on four WIM norms earned across tournaments in Sardinia, Poland, and Slovenia.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India Tests Systems Against Mythos Cyber Threat: India is testing financial and government digital systems, including the Aadhaar national identity system and government login platforms, against vulnerabilities linked to Anthropic’s next-generation AI model, Mythos. The tests involve Indian technology firms, the national cybersecurity agency CERT-In, and critical digital infrastructure used by public institutions and banks. Anthropic unveiled Claude Mythos Preview on 7 April 2026. The model has been associated with autonomous discovery and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities in operating systems and web browsers. Zero-day vulnerabilities are software flaws that are unknown to the vendor or remain unpatched at the time of discovery.

 

2. NASA Unveils Three-Phase Moon Base Plan: NASA announced a three-phase plan for a permanent Moon base near the lunar South Pole on 24 March 2026 and reaffirmed it on 27 May 2026. The plan carries an estimated investment of $20 billion over seven years and forms part of the Artemis programme for sustained human presence on the Moon. Phase one runs through 2029 and covers robotic missions, cargo delivery, and lunar surface technology testing. NASA plans up to 25 missions with 21 lunar landings in this phase, along with expanded Commercial Lunar Payload Services deliveries and the Lunar Terrain Vehicle programme. Moon Base-I is planned no earlier than autumn 2026 and will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander. The mission will deliver equipment to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge for risk reduction before future crewed Artemis landings.

 

3. India Records 191 Cockroach Species: India has 191 recorded species of cockroaches, and more than 60% of them are endemic to the country. A Zoological Survey of India study published in the taxonomy journal Zootaxa also documented India’s first and largest DNA barcode reference library for cockroaches. India’s cockroach fauna now includes 191 species, and the study added several undocumented and endemic lineages. The research generated more than 100 high-quality DNA barcodes for species identification and classification. DNA barcoding uses a short genetic sequence, usually from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene, to identify species. In taxonomy, DNA barcodes help distinguish closely related species and resolve classification disputes in groups with similar external features.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI Plans Bond ETF for Retail Investors: The Securities and Exchange Board of India is developing bond exchange-traded funds and derivatives on corporate bond indices to expand retail participation in India’s debt market. SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced the initiative at the CareEdge Debt Market Summit in Mumbai on 26 May 2026. Bond ETFs are exchange-traded funds that invest in debt instruments such as government securities, corporate bonds, or a mix of fixed-income securities. They trade on stock exchanges like shares and can be bought in small units by retail investors. SEBI has linked the proposed bond ETFs with three market objectives: higher liquidity, smaller ticket-size access for retail investors, and hedging tools for institutions against interest-rate risk. Retail participation in India’s corporate bond market remains below 1% of outstanding corporate bonds.

 

2. RBI Mandates 3 year cooling-off period for UCB, RCB directors, Sets up committee to examine quantum tech in Finance: In May 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final amendment directions for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and Rural Co-operative Banks (RCBs), introducing a mandatory three-year cooling-off period for directors who complete 10 years of continuous tenure on the board. The amendment aims to stop directors from circumventing the tenure cap by resigning briefly and subsequently getting re-elected or co-opted to the same bank’s board. The RBI set up an eight-member expert panel under the leadership of Dr Anil Prabhakar, professor, at the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Madras, as the convener to study the implications of the risks to the financial system from adoption of quantum technology.

 

3. Federal Bank Appoints Elias George as Part-Time Chairman: In May 2026, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Elias George as the Part-Time Chairman of the Board of Directors of Federal Bank Limited. After retiring from the IAS, he joined KPMG as Senior Partner, leading the Infrastructure, Government, and Healthcare vertical with a team of over 1,000 consultants. He has served in various Union Ministries and the Government of Kerala, with expertise in infrastructure, financing, and public utilities.

 

Daily GK Update- 26th May, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Reliance Industries Limited Becomes First Indian Company to Cross $120 Billion Revenue Mark in FY26: Reliance Industries Limited has become the first Indian company to cross the $120 billion revenue mark in the financial year 2025–26, achieving a historic corporate milestone. Earlier, the company had also become the first Indian firm to surpass $10 billion in annual net profit, further strengthening its position among the world’s leading businesses

 

2. K. Venugopal Becomes First Indian Elected Fellow of Society of Experimental Test Pilots: K. Venugopal has become the first Indian test pilot to be elected as a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Venugopal is currently serving at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s leading aerospace and defence manufacturer.The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) is a prestigious global organisation comprising renowned test pilots and aerospace professionals from across the world.

 

3. Centre Extends NCB Chief Anurag Garg’s Tenure Till July 2027 : The Centre has extended the tenure of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg till 31 July 2027, according to a Personnel Ministry order.Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau in September 2024, and his tenure was earlier scheduled to end on 23 May 2026.Under his leadership, the NCB recently cracked multiple drug trafficking syndicates and carried out India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, also known as the “Jihadi Drug”.

 

4. Sports Ministry Notifies Sports Board and Tribunal Rules: The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026, and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026, on 26 May 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The rules provide the framework for the National Sports Board and the National Sports Tribunal, which are two statutory bodies under the sports governance law. The National Sports Board (NSB) is the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies. It also monitors compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards by recognised sports bodies. The NSB will have a Chairperson and two members. The Central Government will appoint them from a panel recommended by a Search-cum-Selection Committee. The tenure of NSB members will be three years. The upper age limit for members is 65 years, and they cannot hold positions in international or national sports bodies during their tenure.

 

5. Adani Green Energy commissions battery storage system in Gujarat: Adani Green Energy Ltd commissioned a cumulative 3.37 gigawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System at Khavda in Gujarat on 26 May 2026. The installation is the world’s largest single-location battery storage deployment outside China and includes an additional 1.37 GWh commissioned in March 2026. A Battery Energy Storage System, or BESS, stores electricity in rechargeable batteries for later use. Utility-scale BESS projects use lithium-ion battery technology, power conversion systems, and energy management systems for grid support, frequency control, and peak load management. Khavda is a renewable energy site in Gujarat associated with large-scale solar and wind development. The operational BESS capacity at Khavda now stands at 3.37 GWh, and the project was completed in 10 months from the start of on-site construction.

 

6. India Finds New Gas Zone in Rajasthan’s Dandewala Field: Oil India Limited announced a new natural gas discovery in the nominated Dandewala Field in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan on 22 May 2026. The discovery is the first successful establishment of natural gas in the shallower Sanu Formation within the Dandewala field. The Dandewala Field is located in western Rajasthan, a region associated with hydrocarbon exploration in the Rajasthan basin. Oil India Limited operates nominated fields in India under the petroleum exploration and production framework. The discovery well was drilled to a depth of about 950 metres. During testing, it recorded an average natural gas inflow of nearly 25,000 standard cubic metres per day (SCMD). Preliminary estimates place the Gas In Place resources in the new zone at about 75 million standard cubic metres (MMSCM). Gas In Place refers to the total volume of natural gas estimated to be present in a reservoir before production.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Tata Power Signs MoU with Druk Green Power Corporation for Clean Energy Skill Development in Bhutan: Tata Power has signed an MoU with Druk Green Power Corporation to develop a skill development framework supporting Bhutan’s 5,000 MW clean energy capacity expansion.Under the agreement, specialised training programmes will be conducted through the Tata Power Skill Development Institute (TPSDI) to enhance workforce capabilities in the clean energy sector.

 

2. 25 May – Africa Day : Africa Day is observed every year on 25 May to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which later became the African Union (AU).

The day celebrates African unity, cultural diversity, economic progress, and the continent’s efforts towards peace, development, and regional cooperation.

 

3. 25 May 2026 – Memorial Day : Memorial Day is observed in the United States on the last Monday of May every year to honour military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2026, it falls on 25 May.The day is marked with ceremonies, parades, visits to cemeteries and memorials, and the decoration of soldiers’ graves with flags and flowers.Memorial Day originally began after the American Civil War and later evolved into a national holiday dedicated to remembering all fallen U.S. service members.

 

4. 25 May – World Thyroid Day: World Thyroid Day is observed every year on 25 May to raise awareness about thyroid-related diseases and their impact on overall health.Theme 2026 – Thyroid and NutritionThe day highlights common thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goitre, and thyroid cancer, along with the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

 

5. 25 May – International Missing Children’s Day: International Missing Children’s Day is observed every year on 25 May to raise awareness about missing children and to support efforts for their safe recovery.The day highlights the importance of child safety, prevention of child abduction, and the strengthening child protection systems across countries.

 

6. India-Canada Target $50 Billion Trade by 2030 : India and Canada have set a target to raise bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The two countries have also aimed to fast-track negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, with a goal of concluding it by the end of 2026 or earlier. Bilateral trade between India and Canada is reported at different levels in recent references, including about 17 billion, about 13.6 billion in merchandise trade, and about 32 billion Canadian dollars, which is roughly 25 billion. Canadian pension funds have invested nearly 100 billion in India, and this figure is used in discussions on long-term capital flows between the two economies.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation Stone for AMCA Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft Project in Andhra Pradesh : Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project at Puttaparthi in the presence of N. Chandrababu Naidu.The AMCA project is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to build a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft and advanced flight testing systems.The Central Government has announced an investment of nearly ₹15,000 crore for the ambitious AMCA programme aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous defence and aerospace capabilities.

 

2. Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Defence Complex in Shirdi : Rajnath Singh inaugurated a private defence manufacturing complex in Shirdi developed by NIBE Limited and flagged off India’s first 300-km Universal Rocket Launching System ‘Suryastra’, highlighting India’s growing self-reliance in defence production.The complex will focus on advanced artillery systems, missile and space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials, and autonomous defence platforms, along with indigenous technologies such as TNT, RDX, and bio-energy systems.The event emphasised strengthening India’s defence ecosystem under initiatives like Make in India, iDEX, ADITI, and the Technology Development Fund.

3. South Korea Plans Nuclear Submarine by Mid-2030s : South Korea unveiled a roadmap on 26 May 2026 to launch its first domestically built nuclear submarine by the mid-2030s. The project is designated as the Jangbogo N Project and is linked to South Korea’s shipbuilding and reactor technologies. The Jangbogo N Project is South Korea’s programme for a nuclear-powered submarine built within the country. The submarines are planned for active service in the late 2030s or later. The project was announced at the inaugural meeting of the Committee on Future Defense Strategy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The planned submarines will use low-enriched uranium, defined as uranium enriched to less than 20% uranium-235. The reactors are designed for extended operational cycles, which reduces the frequency of refuelling. South Korea plans to develop the submarines with domestic reactor technology and domestic shipbuilding capability.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Rohit Rajpal Appointed as India’s Chef de Mission for Commonwealth Games, Glasgow : Rohit Rajpal has been appointed as India’s Chef de Mission for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.Indian Olympic Association has also named Ravi Bengani as Deputy Chef de Mission, while Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami will serve as general team managers for the Indian contingent.

 

2. Vijay Shankar Announces Retirement from Domestic and IPL Cricket After 15-Year Career: Vijay Shankar announced his retirement from domestic and IPL cricket after a 15-year career, having represented India in 12 ODIs and 9 T20Is, including the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.Vijay Shankar played 77 First-Class matches, scoring 4,253 runs and taking 43 wickets, while also featuring in 78 IPL matches for teams including Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans.As captain, Vijay Shankar led Tamil Nadu cricket team to titles in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy in 2017, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021-22.

 

3. Gurindervir Singh Becomes Fastest Indian Sprinter: Gurindervir Singh became the fastest Indian sprinter ever by clocking 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100m final at the Federation Cup held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.With this performance, he became the first Indian athlete to break into the 10.0-second range in the 100m sprint, creating a new milestone in Indian athletics history.In the same event, strong competition was seen from fellow sprinter Animesh Kujur, but Gurindervir Singh clinched the title with his record-breaking finish.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Indian Scientist Discovers Loktak Protocluster : A Manipuri astrophysicist, Ronaldo Laishram, led an international team that discovered a galaxy protocluster dated to 12.6 billion years ago. The structure was named the Loktak Protocluster after Loktak Lake in Manipur, and it existed when the Universe was about 1.2 billion years old. A protocluster is an early-stage concentration of galaxies that later develops into a galaxy cluster. Galaxy clusters are among the largest gravitationally bound structures in the Universe and can contain hundreds or thousands of galaxies. The Loktak Protocluster contains four connected concentrations of galaxies. The structure was compared with the interconnected floating phumdis of Loktak Lake, which are masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter found in the lake. Ronaldo Laishram is a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. The discovery used observations from the Subaru Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.

 

2. India’s First Private Medical Museum Opens in Thiruvananthapuram: The Museum of Medical Archives opened in Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, on 25 May 2026. It is Kerala’s first private medical museum and India’s first private medical museum. A medical museum is a collection space that preserves teaching aids, anatomical specimens, models, charts, and archival material related to medicine and medical education. Such museums are used in anatomy, embryology, pathology, microbiology, and history of medicine. The exhibits include handcrafted anatomical models, embryological displays, paintings, microbiology archives, and photographs. The displays cover fetal circulation, embryonic development, stages of mitosis, tooth formation, reproductive anatomy, heart development, and vascular structures.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Forms Q-SAFE Committee on Quantum Technology: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) formed an eight-member expert committee on 25 May 2026 to assess the benefits, risks, and challenges of quantum technology in the financial sector. The panel is named the Expert Committee for a Quantum Secure and Adaptive Financial Ecosystem (Q-SAFE) and will study quantum-related cyber threats for India’s financial system. Quantum technology uses principles of quantum mechanics, including superposition and entanglement, for computation and communication. In finance, quantum methods are linked with portfolio optimisation, risk assessment, and macroeconomic modelling. Quantum computing can also affect current cryptographic systems used in banking and digital payments.

 

2. Taiwan Overtakes India in Stock Market Value : Taiwan became the world’s fifth-largest stock market on 25 May 2026, when its market capitalisation reached US4.95 trillion and India’s market value stood at US4.92 trillion. Taiwan’s rise followed a sharp rally in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest chipmaker. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is the largest contract chipmaker in the world and a major constituent of Taiwan’s benchmark index. The company accounts for more than 42% of the benchmark index, which makes the market highly concentrated. TSMC shares rose 49% in 2026 by 26 May 2026, driven by demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors. Artificial intelligence semiconductors are chips used in data centres, graphics processing, and machine learning systems.

 

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Manindra Agrawal Elected Fellow of Royal Society for Groundbreaking Work in Theoretical Computer Science: Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific honours.This recognition places him among an elite group of scientists whose contributions have shaped modern science, including legendary figures like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.

 

Daily GK Update- 25th May, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Social Justice Launches ‘JEEVAN’ App and ‘SHATAYU’ Dashboard for Senior Citizens’ Care and Support: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the “JEEVAN” mobile application and “SHATAYU” dashboard to strengthen safety, care, dignity, and empowerment of senior citizens through technology-based support services. The JEEVAN app provides information on government welfare schemes, emergency assistance services, and senior citizen homes supported by the ministry, with a user-friendly and accessible interface designed for elderly users. The SHATAYU dashboard was launched to strengthen the elderly caregiving ecosystem by providing information on the availability of geriatric caregivers across districts and states during the National Workshop on “Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy.”

 

2. ICICI Bank Gets RBI Approval to Reappoint Sandeep Bakhshi as CEO Till October 2028 : ICICI Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to reappoint Sandeep Bakhshi as its Chief Executive Officer. His tenure has been extended for a further two years, allowing him to continue in the role until 3 October 2028.

 

3. Vice President Releases Book on P.N. Panicker : Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker, authored by P. P. Sathyan, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan. The Vice President described P. N. Panicker as a champion of universal access to knowledge and stressed the need to revive reading culture in society.

 

4. 24 May – National Brother’s Day: National Brother’s Day is observed every year on 24 May to celebrate the bond of love, care, and friendship shared between brothers. The day highlights the importance of sibling relationships and acknowledges the support, protection, and companionship brothers provide in life.

 

5. NITI Aayog Convenes Education to Employment Committee : NITI Aayog convened the first meeting of the High Powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee on

22 May 2026 in New Delhi. The committee was formed under the Union Budget 2026-27 to align education and skilling systems with labour market demand and to support the services sector. The committee examines the relationship between education outcomes, skill acquisition, and workforce requirements in India. Its agenda includes labour force participation, youth employment, education-skill alignment, and preparedness for jobs in the formal and informal economy. The committee aims to support India’s target of a 10% share in the global services market by 2047. India’s demographic dividend refers to a period when the working-age population is larger than the dependent population.

 

6. Raghav Chadha Heads Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions: Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha member, was appointed chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Upper House on 23 May 2026. The appointment took effect on 20 May 2026 after the committee was reconstituted by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. The Committee on Petitions is a parliamentary committee of the Rajya Sabha that examines petitions presented before the House. It makes recommendations on matters of public importance and legislative concern. C.P. Radhakrishnan nominated 10 members to the Committee on Petitions. The panel includes Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali, Shambhu Sharan Patel, Mayankkumar Nayak, Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha, Jebi Mather Hisham, Subhasish Khuntia, Rwngwra Narzary, and P. Sandosh Kumar.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India & Ethiopia Sign WTO Accession Protocol to Strengthen Trade and Strategic Ties : India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in Geneva to support Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. India reiterated its support for the inclusion of developing and Least Developed Countries in the global trading system, with the agreement being fast-tracked under the guidance of Piyush Goyal. India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, and bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Narendra Modi to Ethiopia in December 2025.

 

2. Department of Posts and Flipkart Partner for Nationwide Last Mile Parcel Delivery Services : The Department of Posts and Flipkart signed an agreement for last-mile parcel delivery services across India.The partnership will combine the extensive postal delivery network of the Department of Posts with Flipkart’s strong e-commerce presence to provide efficient and customer-centric parcel delivery solutions.Under the agreement, the Department of Posts will handle last-mile delivery for Flipkart shipments using its vast network of over 1.6 lakh post offices across the country.a

 

3. New Delhi Hosts 68th Asian Productivity Organisation Governing Body Meeting Successfully: The 68th Governing Body Meeting of the Asian Productivity Organisation was held in New Delhi from 20–22 May 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, focusing on regional cooperation, productivity, and strategic collaboration among member economies.The meeting was hosted by the National Productivity Council under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.During the session, Cambodia received the APO-AB Accreditation Certificate, while it was announced that the 69th GBM will be hosted in Laos in 2027 and the 67th Summit Meeting of Heads of APO Economies will be held in Sri Lanka in 2027.

 

4. 23 May – World Turtle Day: World Turtle Day is observed every year on 23 May to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of turtles and tortoises across the world.Theme 2026 – Dancing Turtles Rock!The day highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats and addressing threats such as pollution, climate change, illegal trade, and habitat destruction affecting turtle species.

5. India Leads Global IRCC Issuance Under Nagoya Protocol: India has become the global leader in issuing Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. As of March-April 2026, India issued about 3,556 to 3,561 certificates out of a global total of 6,311 certificates recorded on the ABS Clearing-House. The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted in 2010 and linked to access to genetic resources and fair and equitable benefit-sharing. The ABS Clearing-House is an international platform that records access and benefit-sharing information from registered countries. Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance, or IRCCs, are official documents issued under the Nagoya Protocol. These certificates serve as evidence that Prior Informed Consent has been obtained and Mutually Agreed Terms have been established between users and providers of genetic resources.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army Develops AI Platforms Kautilya and Q-FORCE: The Indian Army developed two Artificial Intelligence-based digital systems, Kautilya and Q-FORCE, in 2026 for command intelligence and logistics management. Kautilya is an AI-powered command intelligence platform, while Q-FORCE is an integrated digital application for supply chain and sustainment operations. Kautilya was launched during 21–25 May 2026 as an AI-powered command intelligence platform. It uses AI-enabled dashboards and Natural Language Processing-based interfaces for structured data generation, analytics, and decision support. The platform processes inputs on personnel, equipment, weapons, training, logistics, rations, and operational readiness. It also supports tablet-based data entry and functions as an AI co-pilot for administrative and operational tasks.

 

2. South Korea Plans Nuclear Submarine by Mid-2030s: South Korea unveiled a roadmap on 26 May 2026 to launch its first domestically built nuclear submarine by the mid-2030s. The project is designated as the Jangbogo N Project and is linked to South Korea’s shipbuilding and reactor technologies. The Jangbogo N Project is South Korea’s programme for a nuclear-powered submarine built within the country. The submarines are planned for active service in the late 2030s or later. The project was announced at the inaugural meeting of the Committee on Future Defense Strategy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Bharat Singh Chauhan Re-Elected as Chairman of Commonwealth Chess Association: Bharat Singh Chauhan has been unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association for the term 2026–2030, recognising his decades-long contribution to chess development.The election process was conducted under the supervision of Hon’ble Santiago Pushpa Kumara Ekaratne, a retired High Court Judge, who served as the Returning Officer for the election.

 

2. India’s First Freediving Team for World Championship: India will field its first official freediving team at the World Apnea Pool Championship in Budapest, Hungary, from 2 June 2026. The team has three athletes: Archana Thiagarajan, Akshay Thatte, and Vachan H U. Freediving is a breath-hold underwater sport that includes pool disciplines and depth disciplines. The World Apnea Pool Championship is an international competition conducted under AIDA International, the global body associated with competitive freediving. Archana Thiagarajan became the first Indian to compete at a World Championship at Wakayama, Japan, from 28 June to 2 July 2025. She competed at the 34th AIDA Freediving World Championship and set four new national records across pool disciplines.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Madhya Pradesh Partners with Google Cloud to Use AI for Simhastha Kumbh 2028 Management : The Madhya Pradesh government has partnered with Google Cloud to use AI-based solutions for the management of Simhastha Kumbh 2028 to be held in Ujjain.As part of the collaboration, a Centre for Excellence will be established in Indore, and AI solutions will also support sectors like agriculture, education, health, forestry, and women & child development.

 

2. Scientists Discover Fuel-Saving Earth-to-Moon Route: An international team of scientists published research in April 2026 in the journal Astrodynamics on a fuel-saving Earth-to-Moon trajectory. The study involved researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and the University of Coimbra in Portugal. The lead author was Allan Kardec de Almeida Júnior, and Vitor Martins de Oliveira was a co-author. Earth-to-Moon travel uses transfer trajectories that are calculated with orbital mechanics and gravitational fields. A trajectory with lower delta-v requires less propellant for spacecraft manoeuvres. The newly identified route reduces fuel consumption by at least 58.8 metres per second of delta-v compared with previous optimal paths. The route uses gravitational effects from Earth and the Moon and follows pathways linked to the Interplanetary Transportation Network. The path approaches the Moon from its far side and uses routes around the L1 Lagrange point, which lies between Earth and the Moon. Low-energy transfers of this type have been used in missions such as the Japanese Hiten probe in 1991 and NASA’s GRAIL mission.

 

3. China Plans Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission for South Pole Research: China’s Chang’e-7 lunar exploration mission is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. The mission will study the Moon’s south pole through environmental and resource surveys, with a focus on permanently shadowed regions and possible water ice deposits. Chang’e-7 will use an orbiter, a lander, a rover and a small hopping spacecraft. The mission is designed for high-precision landing with an accuracy of better than 100 metres. The rim of Shackleton crater is a preferred landing site for the mission. The mission will search for water ice and other volatiles in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole. It will also assess the area for a future research base. Chang’e-7 carries 18 science payloads, including instruments built with international partners such as the Egyptian Space Agency and the Bahrain National Space Science Agency.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ZikZuk Technologies Receives RBI Approval to Operate as Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer: ZikZuk Technologies has received final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuer under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.The approval allows ZikZuk to offer regulated payment solutions, including digital wallets, prepaid cards, stored-value solutions, and services linked to UPI and cross-border financial systems.PPIs enable users to load money in advance for transactions and include services such as gift cards, transit payments, and UPI One World solutions for foreign nationals and NRIs visiting India.

 

2. RBI Approves Record ₹2.86 Lakh Crore Surplus Transfer to Government for FY 2025–26: The Reserve Bank of India approved a record surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the Central Government for FY 2025–26, marking one of its highest dividend payouts.The decision was taken during the 623rd meeting of the RBI Central Board in Mumbai, chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, where the bank also reviewed the economic outlook and annual accounts.RBI reported a 26.42% rise in gross income and a 27.60% increase in expenditure before risk provisions, with net income reaching ₹3.95 lakh crore in FY26 compared to ₹3.13 lakh crore in FY25.The central bank also transferred ₹1.09 lakh crore to the Contingent Risk Buffer and maintained it at 6.5% of the balance sheet under the revised Economic Capital Framework.

 

3. RBI Imposes Penalties on City Union Bank, Mintifi Finserve and Newa Investments for Regulatory Non-Compliance: The Reserve Bank of India imposed monetary penalties on City Union Bank, Mintifi Finserve, and Newa Investments for non-compliance with regulatory directions.City Union Bank was fined ₹10.10 lakh for levying loan-related charges on certain agriculture advances under priority sector lending norms and for not reporting self-help group member-level data to credit information companies.The RBI also imposed penalties of ₹3.10 lakh on Mintifi Finserve and ₹2.70 lakh on Newa Investments for regulatory non-compliance.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chandrayaan-3 Wins 2026 AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award for Historic Lunar South Pole Landing: The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Chandrayaan-3 was awarded the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Washington, D.C., for its landmark achievements in lunar exploration.Chandrayaan-3 created history on 23 August 2023 by becoming the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole, a region of high scientific and strategic importance.The mission provided crucial lunar surface data and confirmed the presence of key chemical elements, while the award was accepted on behalf of ISRO by India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra.

 

2. Indian-Origin Scientists Salim Abdool Karim and Keertan Dheda Honoured with South Africa’s Highest Civilian Award: Indian-origin public health scientists Salim Abdool Karim and Keertan Dheda were among 38 individuals awarded South Africa’s highest civilian honour.They were conferred the prestigious Order of Mapungubwe by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at a ceremony held in Pretoria.The award recognises exceptional contributions in public health and global research that benefit both South Africa and the international community.