Current Affairs — 19 May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Tue, 19 May 2026
3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo: ties shaped into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
At the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, hosted by Norway in Oslo on 19 May 2026, India and the Nordic countries decided to shape their relations into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership.
Former Uttarakhand CM and ex-Road Transport Minister Maj Gen B. C. Khanduri (Retd.) dies at 91
Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), twice Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (2007–09, 2011–12) and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral, died in Dehradun on 19 May 2026 aged 91.
Coal production begins at Urtan and Dhirauli mines in MP; Urtan is first underground mine under commercial auctions
The Coal Ministry said on 19 May 2026 that production had begun at the Urtan mine in Anuppur and the Dhirauli mine in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, with Urtan the first underground mine to produce under the commercial coal auction regime.
Amit Shah chairs 26th Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
On 19 May 2026 Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, attended by the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Project Cheetah review: population at 53, of which 33 are India-born
A Project Cheetah review chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 19 May 2026 reported 53 cheetahs in India, 33 of them born in the country, with Banni grasslands in Gujarat and Nauradehi in MP lined up for expansion.
DRDO completes development trials of ULPGM-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes near Kurnool
DRDO announced on 19 May 2026 that it had completed final deliverable configuration trials of the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes at its range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Education Ministry's Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase in Bengaluru: 24 deep-tech start-ups meet 90+ investors
On 19 May 2026 the Ministry of Education and IVCA held the Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase in Bengaluru, where 24 deep-tech start-ups presented to over 90 investors ahead of the flagship Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, France, on 14–16 June.
Rajnath Singh holds talks with Vietnam's Defence Minister in Hanoi; MoU on AI and quantum technology
On 19 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks in Hanoi with Vietnam's Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang; the two sides signed an MoU on AI and quantum technology and India announced an AI lab at Nha Trang.
Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference opens in Bhubaneswar with five eastern states
On 19 May 2026 Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, bringing together Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
Railways approves ₹962-crore Kiul–Jhajha third line in Bihar and ₹993-crore Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling in Tamil Nadu
On 19 May 2026 Indian Railways approved the 54-km Kiul–Jhajha third line on the Howrah–Delhi route at ₹962 crore and the 68-km Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling of Southern Railway at ₹993 crore.
Ayush Anudan Portal launched under Ayush Grid for online grant management
On 19 May 2026 Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav launched the Ayush Anudan Portal, built under the Ayush Grid initiative to handle funding proposals under the ministry's Central Sector Schemes online.
Indian astronomers report first confirmed blue straggler star with a brown dwarf companion in a 5.6-hour orbit
A team from Gauhati University, IIA Bengaluru, ARIES Nainital and INAF-Catania reported on 19 May 2026 the first confirmed blue straggler star hosting a brown dwarf companion, in one of the shortest-period stellar binaries known.
NISM and IICA sign MoU on corporate governance, ESG and capital markets in Mumbai
On 19 May 2026 the SEBI-established National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) signed an MoU in Mumbai to advance corporate governance, ESG and capital markets.
C. R. Patil chairs 14th HPRB meeting of Brahmaputra Board in Guwahati; State Water Reforms Framework launched
On 19 May 2026 Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil chaired the 14th meeting of the Brahmaputra Board's High-Powered Review Board in Guwahati and launched the State Water Reforms Framework.