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.
No comments:
Post a Comment