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.

 

Daily GK Update- 24th May, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NISM and IICA sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen corporate governance and ESG ecosystem : NISM and IICA signed an MoU in Mumbai to strengthen corporate governance, ESG frameworks, and India’s capital markets. The partnership will focus on capacity building, research, policy development, and training, including jointly designed certification courses, executive education modules, and specialised programmes for SEBI officials and financial sector professionals.The collaboration also aims to improve MSME access to capital markets, enhance sustainability disclosures, strengthen investor education, and promote evidence-based regulatory research for a more transparent financial ecosystem.

 

2. ICRA Cuts India’s FY2026-27 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.2% Amid Rising Crude Oil Prices : Rating agency ICRA has projected India’s GDP growth at 6.2% for the Financial Year 2026–27, lower than its earlier estimate of 6.5%.The downward revision in GDP growth forecast is mainly attributed to elevated crude oil prices caused by the ongoing West Asia crisis.

 

3. Oil Palm Productivity and India’s Edible Oil Future : The NMEO-OP aims to bring 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm cultivation by 2025-26 and 10 lakh hectares in the longer term. By November 2025, India had covered 6.20 lakh hectares under oil palm. CPO production in India increased from 1.91 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 3.80 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. The production target is 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26 and 28 lakh tonnes by 2029-30. India launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in 2021 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 11,040 crore. The mission covers oil palm cultivation, crude palm oil (CPO) production, and edible oilseed availability in India.

 

4. Hazaribag Site Reveals 3,200-Year-Old Settlement: The archaeological site in Hazaribag district of Jharkhand has yielded evidence of a layered settlement in the Mohane river basin in Chauparan block. The site includes villages such as Dehar, Sohra, Mangarh, and Hathinder, where artefacts have been recovered during farming and foundation digging. Archaeological remains from the site have been linked to a settlement dating back nearly 3,200 years. The evidence spans multiple historical periods and includes habitation layers, debris zones, and buried structures. Samples of Northern Black Polished Ware, a black-glazed pottery associated with the early historic period in South Asia, have been collected from the site. The site has also produced statues of Gautam Buddha, Tara, Marichi, Avalokiteshvara, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and Ganesha.

 

5. Delhi High Court Allows Vinesh Phogat in Asian Games Trials: On 22 May 2026, the Delhi High Court allowed Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to take part in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026. The trials are scheduled for 30 and 31 May 2026, and the case involved eligibility rules issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The WFI introduced revised eligibility criteria in 2026 for the Asian Games trials. Under the new rule, only reigning national champions from the previous season were eligible for the trials. Vinesh Phogat was declared ineligible under this criterion because she had been on a maternity break since December 2024. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela heard the appeal against a 18 May 2026 order of a single-judge bench. The court ordered that the selection trials be video-recorded and that two independent observers be nominated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association.

 

6. CAFE III and ADAS Norms to Shape Auto-Component Growth: India’s third phase of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE III) norms is scheduled from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. The norms are framed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power and apply to M1 category passenger vehicles with seating capacity of up to nine persons and a gross vehicle weight of up to 3,500 kg. The heavy vehicle Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) mandate is linked to new models from 1 April 2026 and to existing production models from 1 October 2026. CAFE norms are fuel-efficiency regulations for vehicle fleets, and they are used to limit average carbon dioxide emissions from passenger vehicles. Under CAFE III, automakers are required to reduce average fleet emissions from about 113 g/km at the end of CAFE-II in FY27 to 78.9 g/km by FY32. The framework is designed for energy-efficient vehicles and lower crude oil dependence.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Everest Sets New Record: 274 Climbers Summit in a Day, Three Indians Included : A total of 274 climbers successfully summited Mount Everest from the Nepal side, setting a new world record for the highest number of ascents in a single day.Among them, three Indian mountaineers — Tulasi Reddi Palpunoori, Sandeep Are, and Ajay Pal Singh Dhaliwal — were part of the record-setting Everest expedition.

 

2. India Sends Largest Business Delegation to Canada: India sent its largest-ever business and investment delegation to Canada for trade talks from 25 May to 27 May 2026. The delegation is led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and includes more than 100 senior business representatives from multiple sectors. The delegation includes representatives from energy, infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, investment, innovation, mining, automotive, and aerospace. Some accounts place the size of the delegation at about 150 Indian industry leaders. The visit covers Ottawa and Toronto in Canada. The main agenda of the visit is the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Canada. The talks also focus on business linkages between Indian and Canadian firms. India and Canada have set a target of doubling bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030.

 

3. Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Italy on May 19-20, 2026: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a two-day official visit to Italy from May 19 to 20, 2026, at the invitation of Giorgia Meloni, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. This visit marked the culmination of PM Modi’s 5-nation tour which included: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway from May 15 to May 20, 2026.During his visit to Italy, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Italian counterpart Meloni  in Rome, Italy. During the meeting, leaders of both countries reviewed the progress made in bilateral cooperation across all segments of the Joint Strategic ActionDuring his visit to Italy, PM Narendra Modi was honoured with the Agricola Medal, the highest honour of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by its Director-General(DG) Qu Dongyu at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome.

 

4. India Among Largest New Carbon Markets; Global Carbon Pricing Covers 29% of Emissions : World Bank Report: The report showed that  annual revenues from emissions trading systems and carbon taxes  have tripled over the last decade i.e. increasing from less than USD 30 billion (in 2016) to over USD107 billion (in 2025). The report highlighted that globally, the direct carbon prices have increased 7% compared to last year’s report and have nearly doubled over the last 10 years  i.e.  from USD10 per tCO2e (in 2016) to nearly USD21/tCO2e (in 2026) The report further highlighted that if all carbon pricing policies under development are implemented by 2030, then, nearly1/3rd (33.33%)of global GHG emissions could come under carbon pricing systems.

 

5. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2026 – May 21: The United Nations (UN) annually observes the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development. In November 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognising cultural diversity as the “common heritage of humanity” and emphasising its role in development. On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/57/249, proclaiming 21 May as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. MoD Likely to Issue AMCA Manufacturing RFP Soon : The Ministry of Defence is expected to issue a Request for Proposal for the manufacturing of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft by June 2026. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA, is India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth, multirole combat aircraft programme for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Three private sector-led industrial groups have been pre-selected for the manufacturing contract. Tata Advanced Systems Limited will bid independently, a Larsen & Toubro–Bharat Electronics Limited consortium will bid jointly, and a consortium led by Bharat Forge with BEML and Data Patterns will also participate. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was excluded from the shortlist for the prototype development phase in February 2026.

2. India, US Hold Talks on Defence, Trade, Technology: India and the United States held high-level talks in New Delhi in May 2026 on defence, trade, strategic technology, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, nuclear cooperation, counter-terrorism, and the Indo-Pacific. The discussions involved US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership covers defence, security, trade, energy, technology, and regional cooperation. The TRUST initiative, or Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology, was launched in February 2025 as an upgrade of the earlier iCET, or Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Dev Meena, Kuldeep Kumar set national pole vault record : Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar set a joint men’s national pole vault record of 5.45 metres on 24 May 2026 at the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi. The mark was achieved during the Federation Cup 2026, where the national record was broken twice in quick succession. The previous Indian men’s pole vault record stood at 5.41 metres and belonged to Kuldeep Kumar before the Ranchi competition. Dev Meena first improved the record to 5.42 metres, and Kuldeep Kumar later cleared 5.45 metres to regain the record. Both athletes met the qualification mark for the 2026 Asian Games with their 5.45-metre clearance. Their performance also exceeded the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 5.25 metres for the 2026 edition. On 2 May 2026, Kuldeep Kumar set a national record of 5.41 metres at the 1st Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault competition in Bhubaneswar. He had earlier surpassed Dev Meena’s 5.40-metre mark at that event.

 

2. Gurindervir Singh Sets Men’s 100m National Record: Gurindervir Singh set the men’s 100 metres national record at 10.09 seconds on 23 May 2026 at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi. He became the first Indian athlete to officially run below the 10.10-second mark in the men’s 100 metres event. The 100 metres is a standard sprint event in track and field, and it is run on a straight or curved track depending on the stadium layout. In India, the men’s national record in the event has been revised multiple times at senior-level competitions, including the Federation Cup Athletics Championships. Gurindervir Singh first improved the record on 22 May 2026 with 10.17 seconds in the semifinal heats. Animesh Kujur then clocked 10.15 seconds in the next semifinal to reclaim the record before Gurindervir Singh ran 10.09 seconds in the final on 23 May 2026.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. 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.

 

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. 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.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Rekha Gupta Launches ‘Hauslon Ki Udaan 2026-27’ Talent Hunt Scheme in Delhi : Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launched the “Talent Hunt Scheme – Hauslon Ki Udaan 2026-27” to identify and nurture young talent across Delhi.The scheme will provide a platform for participants to showcase skills in Classical Music, Folk Music, Classical Dance, Folk Dance, Contemporary Dance, Fine Arts, Sculpture, Pottery, and Theatre.

 

2. Bharat Tex 2026 to Showcase India’s Textile Strength with AI-Powered Innovation : India’s flagship global textile event, Bharat Tex 2026, will be held in New Delhi from 14th to 17th July, showcasing India’s textile strength, sustainability initiatives, recycling capabilities, and advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).Textile Secretary Neelam Shami Rao launched the Bharat Tex Mobile App, featuring AI-enabled search to help buyers and exhibitors easily find products, suppliers, and stall locations.The Bharat Tex App will act as a unified digital platform for exhibitors, buyers, delegates, and partners, while the expo will also feature a dedicated AI Zone for textile manufacturers; over 72 countries have already registered for the event.

 

3. Eight Core Industries Growth Rises to 1.7% in April 2026 Led by Cement and Steel Output : The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) recorded a growth of 1.7% in April 2026 on a year-on-year basis, improving from the revised growth rate of 1.2% in March, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.Among the major sectors, cement production registered the highest growth at 9.4%, followed by steel production at 6.2% and electricity generation at 4.1% during April 2026.Several sectors witnessed a decline in output, including coal production (-8.7%), fertiliser production (-8.6%), natural gas (-4.3%), crude oil (-3.9%), and petroleum refinery products (-0.5%); the eight core industries together account for over 40% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Violinist N Rajam to Receive Padma Vibhushan: N Rajam, a violinist associated with Hindustani classical music, has been named for the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. The award is conferred by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan and is announced in the Republic Day honours list. The Padma awards are civilian honours of the Government of India and are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. The three Padma categories are Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. N Rajam is known for developing Gayaki Ang on the violin, a style that reproduces the tonal movement and ornamentation of the human voice. She was born in Chennai in 1938 and began her musical training in Carnatic music before moving to Hindustani music.

 

Daily GK Update- 23rd May, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Launches Chenab Hydropower Projects Amid Indus Treaty Freeze: India has started work on two infrastructure projects linked to the Chenab river system with an estimated cost of nearly ₹2,600 crore. The projects include the ₹2,352 crore Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh and the ₹268 crore sediment-bypass tunnel at the Salal Dam in Jammu and Kashmir. India has fast-tracked four major Chenab hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakal Dul has a planned capacity of 1,000 MW, Kiru has 624 MW, Kwar has 540 MW, and Ratle has 850 MW. The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab has a planned capacity of 1,856 MW and an estimated cost of ₹5,129 crore. The Dulhasti Stage-II project on the Chenab has a planned capacity of 260 MW and an estimated cost of ₹3,277.45 crore.

 

2. India’s Death Rate Stays Above Pre-Covid Level: The 2024 Sample Registration System report of the Office of the Registrar General of India records a crude death rate of 6.4 deaths per thousand population and a total fertility rate of 1.9 children per woman. The report places the crude death rate above the 2019 and 2020 level of 6 and keeps the total fertility rate below the replacement level of 2.1 for the fifth consecutive year. The Sample Registration System is a large-scale demographic survey system used in India to estimate birth rates, death rates, infant mortality, and fertility indicators. The Office of the Registrar General of India publishes the annual Sample Registration System report for population statistics.

 

3. FSSAI Plans Centralised Food Surveillance System: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning a centralised food surveillance system for market sampling, laboratory testing, and digital alert generation. The proposed framework places surveillance sampling under a national mechanism, uses third-party agencies for sample collection, and links test results to a central database for faster regulatory action. Under the proposed system, neutral third-party agencies selected through bidding will buy food samples from the market for surveillance testing. Approved laboratories will upload results to a national database, and unsafe findings will trigger digital alerts with batch numbers to the concerned state food safety commissioner. The new rules require 50% of surveillance samples to come from large organised supply chains. FSSAI headquarters will pay laboratories directly under the proposed arrangement.

 

4. India Launches Operation Ragepill Against Captagon Network: On 16 May 2026, the Narcotics Control Bureau announced Operation Ragepill, which led to the dismantling of an international syndicate involved in Captagon trafficking. The operation resulted in India’s first seizure of about 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets and powder, with an estimated illicit market value of ₹182 crore. Captagon is a synthetic stimulant linked to fenetylline and amphetamine. It has been abused in West Asia and the Middle East, and it is classified as a psychostimulant drug. The substance has been associated with illicit trafficking networks across West Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe. One Syrian national, Alabras Ahmad, was arrested in connection with the syndicate. He entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024 and remained in the country after the visa expired on 12 January 2025. Overstaying a visa is an immigration violation under Indian law.

 

5. Karnataka to establish 1,000 Karnataka Public Schools: Karnataka plans to establish 1,000 Karnataka Public Schools from 1 June 2026, with the project launch scheduled in Shivamogga. The schools are planned under the School Education Department and the Minorities Department, and the model includes classes from Lower Kindergarten to II Pre-University Course in Kannada and English mediums. The project cost is estimated at Rs 3,900 crore over three years. Funding is planned from the Asian Development Bank for 500 schools, the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board for 200 schools, and Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation funds for 100 schools. The state has planned 800 schools under the School Education Department and 200 schools under the Minorities Department. Officials have been asked to begin the tender process for the 800 schools and complete the schools within two years.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rajasthan Receives World No Tobacco Day Award 2026 for Outstanding Tobacco Control Efforts: Rajasthan received the prestigious World No Tobacco Day Award 2026 from the World Health Organisation for its outstanding tobacco control initiatives during 2025-26 in the South-East Asia region.The honour reflects the state government’s strong commitment towards public health and its vision of creating a “Tobacco-Free Rajasthan”.Rajasthan has expanded tobacco cessation treatment and counselling services through more than 500 centres operating up to the block level, with geo-tagged digital access to help people easily locate nearby facilities.

 

2. UNDP Partners with Zambia to Adapt India’s eVIN Platform for Medicines Track and Trace System: The United Nations Development Programme and Zambia have launched a joint initiative in Lusaka to adapt India’s Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) for an Essential Medicines “Track and Trace” system.The eVIN platform, originally developed in India, is designed to improve vaccine logistics and ensure real-time visibility of stock levels across the supply chain.

The system enables real-time inventory management, temperature monitoring, and efficient distribution of medicines and vaccines to strengthen healthcare delivery.

 

3. 21 May – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development : World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed every year on 21 May to promote the value of cultural diversity and its role in strengthening peace and mutual understanding among nations.The day highlights the importance of dialogue between different cultures to support social cohesion, tolerance, and sustainable development worldwide.

 

4. India Postpones First International Big Cat Alliance Summit: India postponed the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi on 21 May 2026. The summit had been scheduled for 1 June or 1–2 June 2026 and was linked with the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit. The International Big Cat Alliance is a multilateral initiative for the conservation of big cats. It was formally established on 12 March 2024 and has 25 member countries and five observer nations. The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, also called IAFS IV, was deferred along with the IBCA Summit. The two meetings were planned together because several African countries are partners in big cat conservation efforts.

 

5. India to Host Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi: India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 26 May 2026. The meeting will be held at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and will bring together the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States. The Quad is a diplomatic grouping of four countries: India, Australia, Japan and the United States. The grouping is associated with cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and with the concept of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The ministers are expected to review existing Quad initiatives and discuss regional and global developments of mutual concern. The listed areas of cooperation include maritime security, resilient supply chains, infrastructure development, critical and emerging technologies, climate action, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

 

6. India Records 97 of World’s 100 Hottest Cities: India recorded 97 of the world’s 100 hottest cities on 22 May 2026 during a heatwave across northern, central and eastern India. Balangir in Odisha touched 48°C, while Sasaram in Bihar also reached 48°C and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh recorded 47°C. A heatwave is a period of abnormally high temperature that lasts for several days and is classified in India by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) using temperature thresholds and departure from normal conditions. The IMD uses terms such as heatwave, severe heatwave and extreme heat conditions for weather alerts in different regions. The IMD forecast heatwave to severe heatwave conditions across large parts of northern and eastern India until 27 May 2026. The affected belt included states in northern, central and eastern India, where daytime temperatures remained above seasonal norms in several districts.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy Launches Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel “Sanghmitra” at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata: Indian Navy launched Yard 3039 (Sanghmitra), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata.The construction of 11 NGOPVs is being carried out simultaneously at two shipyards—Goa Shipyard Limited and GRSE Kolkata—strengthening India’s naval modernisation efforts.

 

2. Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Indian War Memorial in Seoul : Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park near Seoul on 21 May 2026. The memorial marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War and commemorates the service of the 60 Para Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India. During the ceremony, both ministers laid wreaths and paid homage to Indian personnel. They also signed a memorandum of understanding for honouring Korean War veterans and for exchanges related to veterans’ remembrance. The memorial project was funded by India’s Ministry of Defence. The event formed part of Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 Held in Gujarat: The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and organized by the Indian Weightlifting Federation, marking only the second time India has hosted the event since 1982.India finished third in the women’s team standings (487 points) and fifth in the men’s team standings (379 points), while China dominated both categories as well as the overall medal tally.India won a total of 10 medals (1 silver and 9 bronze), with Gyaneshwari Yadav securing the only silver in the women’s 53kg snatch event and Komal Kohar opening the medal account with bronze in the 48kg category.China topped the overall medal tally with 21 gold medals, while standout performers included Ri Sul (women’s best lifter, 63kg) and HE Yueji (men’s best lifter, 65kg).

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Odisha Mandates Electric Vehicles for Government Use: Odisha made the purchase of electric vehicles mandatory for new two-wheelers and four-wheelers used by the state government from 1 June 2026. The directive also applies to four-wheelers hired for official government work from the same date. The state order was issued on 21 May 2026 by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as part of an eight-point plan. Petrol and diesel vehicles can be purchased only under special circumstances or specific requirements. Senior officers allotted official vehicles in Odisha must carpool, and fuel allocation for such vehicles will be reduced by half. All government departments in Odisha have been directed to ensure at least a 10% reduction in monthly fuel consumption for government vehicles.

 

2. IN-SPACe Offers Full PSLV Technology Transfer: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has offered full technology transfer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to Indian industry. The offer comes before the first PSLV built under an earlier private-sector contract has completed its launch, and it is linked to India’s launch vehicle industrialisation framework. IN-SPACe has stated that the PSLV transfer is intended to enable Indian industry to realise, operate, and commercialise PSLV launches in the global medium-lift satellite market. ISRO will provide infrastructural and hand-holding support for 30 months or until two PSLV vehicles are realised and launched by the selected party, whichever is earlier. The Expression of Interest is open to Indian-owned non-government entities with at least seven years of operations and five years of space or aerospace experience. Eligible entities must also have either an average turnover above ₹400 crore or a valuation exceeding ₹1,000 crore.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Mahindra & DBS Bank India launch sustainability-linked dealer financing programme: Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank India signed an MoU to launch India’s first sustainability-linked dealer financing programme in the automotive sector.Under the initiative, authorised Mahindra dealers will receive preferential or lower interest rates on vehicle financing based on their environmental performance and sustainability practices.The programme will evaluate dealers on key Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) parameters, promoting sustainable business operations across the automobile dealership network.

 

2. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Holds APY Annual Felicitation Programme: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority organised the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Annual Felicitation Programme in New Delhi to recognise outstanding performance in APY enrolment and implementation.Among Public Sector Banks, State Bank of India achieved 116% of its target, followed by Union Bank of India and UCO Bank. In the Regional Rural Banks category, Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank topped with 288% achievement, while IDBI Bank achieved 156% of its target in the Major Private Bank category.