Current Affairs — May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 21 May 2026
Unincorporated establishments cross 9 crore; sector employment tops 15 crore (QBUSE, Jan–Mar 2026)
NSO's Quarterly Bulletin on Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, released on 21 May 2026, put the number of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments at 9.16 crore in January–March 2026, up 16.69% year-on-year, with employment crossing 15 crore for the first time.
Sports Ministry proposes criminalising organised doping; draft amendments open for comment till 18 June
On 21 May 2026 the Sports Ministry placed draft anti-doping law amendments for public consultation, proposing criminal action against doping traffickers, suppliers and syndicates while keeping athletes out of criminal prosecution for rule violations.
First International Big Cat Alliance Summit postponed along with Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit
On 21 May 2026 the Environment Ministry said the First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, set for 1 June 2026 in New Delhi alongside the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, will be held at a later date.
Goyal at AmCham summit: US industry commitments in India top $60 billion in six months
On 21 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told the American Chamber of Commerce's Annual Leadership Summit in New Delhi that American industry commitments in India over the last six months were estimated at upwards of $60 billion.
Gadkari reviews quality and maintenance of 11,672 km NH network in Uttar Pradesh
On 21 May 2026 Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed the quality and maintenance of 11,672 km of National Highway projects in Uttar Pradesh and ordered monsoon preparedness.
BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting concludes in Indore
The BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, concluded in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on 21 May 2026 after two days.
UPSC adds Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut as Civil Services Prelims centres; over 23,000 opt for them
UPSC said on 21 May 2026 that its three new Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 centres at Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut, which raise the total from 80 to 83, drew nearly 23,000 applicants.
DRI seizes about 3 lakh smuggled e-cigarettes worth over ₹120 crore
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said on 21 May 2026 it had seized nearly 3,00,000 China-sourced e-cigarettes worth over ₹120 crore at ports, airports and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee meets in Ahmedabad under Coast Guard chief
On 21 May 2026 the 138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee met in Ahmedabad under Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani to review security of offshore installations and energy infrastructure.
Wed, 20 May 2026
PM Modi receives FAO's Agricola Medal 2026 at FAO Headquarters in Rome
On 20 May 2026 the Food and Agriculture Organization conferred its Agricola Medal for 2026 on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its Rome headquarters, for leadership on food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
India and Italy elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's visit to Rome
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Italy on 19–20 May 2026, India and Italy elevated their relations to a Special Strategic Partnership and set a goal of €20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029.
Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 with 12 friendly nations begins at Umroi, Meghalaya
On 20 May 2026 the multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026, with armies from 12 friendly nations, began at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, with a focus on counter-terrorism in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
First ICMR Annual Clinical Trial Meet: Ayurvedic anaemia trial results, Phase 1 report and single ethics review guidelines
At the 1st ICMR Annual Clinical Trial Meet on 20 May 2026, ICMR presented an ICMR-CCRAS anaemia trial, launched a report on First-in-Human Phase 1 trials and released guidelines for single ethics review of multicentre research.
Atal Pension Yojana adds a record 1.35 crore subscribers in FY 2025-26; women's share at 55.14%
At PFRDA's APY Annual Felicitation Programme on 20 May 2026, officials reported a record 1.35 crore new Atal Pension Yojana subscribers in FY 2025-26, over 9 crore gross enrolments and assets above ₹54,000 crore.
Eight core industries grow 1.7% in April 2026; steel, cement and electricity in positive territory
The Index of Eight Core Industries rose 1.7% (provisional) in April 2026 over April 2025, with only cement, steel and electricity recording positive growth.
Atal Innovation Mission opens applications for 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs in Jammu & Kashmir
On 20 May 2026 NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission opened applications for 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs in Jammu and Kashmir under its Frontier Region Program.
World Metrology Day 2026: theme 'Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making'; 40 GATC certificates and e-Maap portal
On World Metrology Day, 20 May 2026, the Department of Consumer Affairs highlighted the theme 'Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making', 40 Government Approved Test Centre certificates and the new e-Maap legal-metrology portal.
ANRF selects 10 institutions for Convergence Research Centres of Excellence
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) announced on 20 May 2026 that it had selected 10 institutions to set up Convergence Research Centres of Excellence combining social sciences and humanities with science and technology.
Scindia launches ₹167-crore 'Mission on Arunachal Kiwi' for cluster-based kiwi value chain
On 20 May 2026 DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the 'Mission on Arunachal Kiwi: The USP of Arunachal Pradesh', a cluster-based kiwi cultivation and value-chain mission with an outlay of about ₹167 crore.
IOS SAGAR deployment ends as INS Sunayna returns to Kochi with crew from 16 partner nations
On 20 May 2026 INS Sunayna returned to Kochi, ending the IOS SAGAR deployment, a multinational Indian Ocean mission with 38 personnel from 16 partner nations.
India and South Korea sign defence MoUs on cyber, training and UN peacekeeping in Seoul
On 20 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with South Korea's Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where the two sides exchanged agreements on defence cyber, defence-college training and UN peacekeeping.
Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sanghmitra' launched at GRSE, Kolkata
On 20 May 2026 the Navy's Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Sanghmitra (Yard 3039) was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata, in the presence of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan.
Bhagwan Birsa Munda statue and feature wall inaugurated at Ranchi Airport
On 20 May 2026 Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated a Bhagwan Birsa Munda statue and feature wall and new passenger facilities at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi.
ARIES–IIT Delhi study shows transverse waves can reveal hidden turbulence in the solar corona
A study by ARIES Nainital and IIT Delhi, reported on 20 May 2026, shows through 3D simulations that transverse waves in the Sun's corona can produce asymmetries in coronal spectral lines, giving a new way to detect hidden turbulence.
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.